Home improvement costs 'on the rise'
Date: 03/06/2008 12:00:00
Home improvement costs are on the rise according to a survey by an estate agent's organisation.
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors said figures from its Building Costs Information Service (BCIS) show upgrade work has gone up by an average of 20 per cent in the last two years.
Competition for labour, an upward trend in petrol costs, and global demand for raw materials had increased prices, the group said.
BCIS executive director Joe Martin said: "Carrying out any type of repair or renovation work on a property can be costly, trying to work out what is a fair price to pay can be equally difficult."
Last month a survey by Halifax found some homeowners are attempting to add value to their properties by making DIY improvements while house prices fall.
Experts have warned people to consult professionals for more complicated projects to avoid the possibility of invalidating
home insurance cover.