Watch our video from Sainsbury’s Finance to find out why trying to save money with DIY or rogue tradesmen could end up costing you more money in the long term

Those of us who enjoy home decorating know there’s nothing like being able to save a few pounds here and there with a bit of DIY. But, while trusting yourself to paint a bedroom is entirely reasonable, are we taking risks when it comes to the big stuff?

When it comes to the electrical, plumbing and gas work on your home, if you are not 100% certain of what you’re doing, you could be opening yourself up to a variety of serious problems. Making sure your home insurance covers you and that you employ the right builders to do the jobs you can’t is a big must.

A new study by Sainsbury’s Finance shows that Brits have wasted a overwhelming £4 billion in the last five years rectifying dodgy building, electrical, plumbing and gas work, done by disreputable tradesmen. But not only are these substandard jobs causing years of grief for homeowners, they are also invalidating home insurance policies, leaving unsuspecting homeowners at huge risk when making claims.

In the following video, Michael Holmes, Editor of ‘Real Homes’ Magazine takes you through what corners you shouldn’t cut when it comes to renovating and how to identify whether you are using a qualified tradesmen that you can trust to do the job. Ben Tyte, Head of Sainsbury’s Home Insurance, will also give you tips on how to make sure you’re covered from the start of your renovation right through to when the job is done and dusted.

For more information on Sainsbury’s Home Insurance, visit www.sainsburysfinance.co.uk