Your Home Is Eating Your Money — Here's Where
The average UK homeowner spends over £1,800 per year on home maintenance and repairs — and a significant chunk of that goes to professionals for jobs that are completely doable at home. Here are 10 repairs you're very likely overpaying for, and what they actually cost to do yourself.
1. Dripping Taps
Tradesperson cost: £60–£100 | DIY cost: £3–5
A worn washer or cartridge is the cause in almost every case. The part costs pennies, the repair takes 30 minutes, and there's a guide for it on this very blog.
2. Blocked Drains
Tradesperson cost: £75–£150 | DIY cost: £0–5
A £3 drain snake or a cupboard of bicarbonate of soda and vinegar handles 90% of household drain blockages.
3. Running Toilets
Tradesperson cost: £80–£120 | DIY cost: £3–12
Replacing a flapper or adjusting the float is a 20-minute job with parts that cost a few pounds.
4. Re-caulking Baths and Showers
Tradesperson cost: £60–£120 | DIY cost: £8–12
A tube of silicone sealant, masking tape, and an afternoon is all this takes.
5. Filling Holes and Cracks in Walls
Tradesperson cost: £60–£80 | DIY cost: £3–8
Ready-mixed filler, sandpaper, and paint. The hardest part is the sanding.
6. Bleeding Radiators
Tradesperson cost: £60–£80 | DIY cost: £2 (for the bleed key)
This is honestly one of the simplest home maintenance tasks that exists. Five minutes, one tool.
7. Replacing Door Hinges and Handles
Tradesperson cost: £50–£80 | DIY cost: £5–15
New hinges cost £5–10 from any hardware store. Fitting them requires a screwdriver and 20 minutes.
8. Repainting Scuffed Walls
Tradesperson cost: £80–£200 per room | DIY cost: £15–40
A fresh coat of paint is one of the highest-impact, lowest-skill home improvement jobs. The equipment costs more than the paint.
9. Replacing a Toilet Seat
Tradesperson cost: £60–£80 | DIY cost: £12–30
Two nuts underneath the toilet hold the seat in place. Remove old, fit new. Ten minutes, done.
10. Fixing Squeaky Doors
Tradesperson cost: £50–£70 | DIY cost: £0
WD-40 or a bar of soap on the hinge pin. You almost certainly already own the fix.
The Compound Effect
If you learned to do all 10 of these repairs yourself, the average saving over 10 years would be over £10,000. Learning home repair isn't just about convenience — it's a genuine financial strategy.