| Many people today are watching home improvement | | | | improvement become the end of your marriage. A |
| shows and these shows seem to be pushing | | | | study by the British Gas Association and published on |
| Canadians to renovate their home into a dream home | | | | their website house.co.uk indicates that more than |
| instead of realizing the financial realities of renovation. | | | | half of the do-it-yourself home improvement projects |
| Surveys show that, although 60% of the people in | | | | are inspired by these shows, and that 80% of the |
| the survey who had a home renovation worked up a | | | | families doing the projects are having arguments over |
| budget for it, 27% spent more than they had | | | | them. |
| originally budgeted. | | | | Two thirds of the families have serious |
| It is not easy to stay within budget when you are | | | | disagreements over the color scheme of the project! |
| doing a renovation. Add to that pressure all of the | | | | The aim of the research was to learn consumer |
| home improvement shows on T.V. or all of the | | | | attitude toward DIY. The site, house.co.uk is a a |
| decorating magazines that make the homeowner | | | | national registry of screened tradesmen who are |
| want the latest and fanciest in appliances and | | | | promoted by HomePro Ltd. the leading on line supplier |
| decoration. Most people who renovate their homes | | | | of trade professionals. |
| want to stay within budget, but all of these | | | | Having a professional may help a family avoid the |
| influences can frequently tempt them to extend | | | | deputes that occur in DIY projects and may save |
| themselves a bit to have the features they see on | | | | money in the long run, since so many families have to |
| T.V. | | | | pay extra to fix their DIY mistakes. |
| Even without this, it is difficult to predict extra costs | | | | Here are the top ten reasons for the disputes: |
| and make sure there is enough money to cover any | | | | 10. The Mars/Venus trap. Men are from Mars and |
| project overruns. Financial experts suggest that you | | | | women are from Venus and they cannot agree. |
| have the financing for the project lined up ahead of | | | | 9. Lack of knowledge to do the job. |
| time in the form of a personal loan or a home equity | | | | 8. The high costs. |
| loan. This will give the homeowner the necessary | | | | 7. Stress. |
| cushion for added costs. Even if you don't use the | | | | 6. The disruption in the household the renovations |
| line of credit, it is good to have it to cover | | | | cause. |
| contingencies. What if you are having a room added, | | | | 5. Finding time to complete the project. |
| and then you find out there is a problem with the | | | | 4. Unfinished jobs. |
| electrical system that has to be repaired? | | | | 3. Misconceptions about the job. The T.V. show |
| The surveys show that 68% of the respondents | | | | makes it look so easy. |
| used savings to pay for their home renovations, but | | | | 2. The one doing the job really doesn't want to do it. |
| they still will require planning to stave off financial | | | | And the top reason (hardly seems worthwhile): |
| problems. Of the homeowners surveyed, 34% were | | | | Disagreements over the color scheme. |
| borrowing to cover the cost of the home | | | | Many people are reluctant to decide about moving |
| improvement. | | | | because of uncertainty in the housing market, so |
| Don't get caught up in the trap of trying to imitate | | | | they are following the lead of T.V. shows and |
| the beautiful mansions you see on these home and | | | | renovating instead of moving. |
| garden T.V shows. Don't let the beginning of a home | | | | |