THE cost of carrying out home improvements has fallen by as much as 34% in the last 12 months.
Exclusive data from Checkatrade has revealed the 12 DIY jobs that have seen the biggest price falls – and the combined savings total almost £11,000.
Falling building costs have made carrying out home improvements more affordable for homeowners, with the average cost of a job down 28%.
The reductions follow several years of price rises caused by factors including increased material prices across the board.
Builders and tradespeople were also impacted by supply chain disruptions, which created scarcity and drove up prices further.
Add to this inflation, energy costs and labour shortages and consumers had got used to receiving eye-watering quotes since 2020.
However, data shows that prices have begun to fall and unsurprisingly the reduction in costs has seen a significant increase in those undertaking work on their homes in 2025.
The biggest fall in prices has been seen in handyman services with the average cost of a job carried out in the first three months of 2025 34% cheaper than it was in 2024.
The second largest reduction was seen in building work with the average price of a job falling by 28%, from £16,818 to £12,065.
Other home improvements to have seen big price reductions include tiling (25%), electrical works (25%), scaffolding (22%) and windows doors and conservatories (22%).
These were followed by bricklaying, which saw a 21% price decrease from an average of £3,165 in 2024 to £2,489 in 2025.
Other jobs to have fallen include central heating work (18%), plumbing (17%) and groundworks (16%).
Jambu Palaniappan, CEO at Checkatrade, said: “After ongoing rising costs fuelled by Brexit and Covid, it’s a welcome relief for consumers to see prices finally easing.
“We’ve seen demand for some of the bigger home improvement jobs dip over the past year, and as demand has slowed, prices have followed – making it more affordable for people to get work done.
“This drop in costs, combined with the usual seasonal uptick we see at the start of the year, has led to a big rise in certain types of home improvement projects recently, as consumers take advantage of better prices.”
Checkatrade has warned that the sudden reduction in price could leave consumers at risk of cowboys charging above market rates.
So, the tradesperson platform has launched a Job Estimate Calculator to help people make informed decisions before appointing a contractor.
The free-to-use tool draws on data from 1.5million jobs completed by the site’s 50,000 vetted trade businesses to
generate accurate quotes for projects.
Many people have shared stories of cowboy builders with The Sun including a dad left almost bankrupt after sinking £120,000 on a nightmare loft conversion.
A mum also told The Sun she had her life ruined after “cowboy builders” took nearly £200,000 for a home renovation.
How to find a reliable trader
Checkatrade and GoCompare have shared tips for spotting a cowboy.
The warning signs:
Someone who asks for a cash payment upfront
A trader who refuses to draw up an official contract for work
Doesn’t offer written estimates including a timeline for completing the job
Doesn’t offer references from previous clients
Say they work ‘off the books’
Anyone who knocks on your door and says they’ve noticed you need work doing
Traders without an official premises or landline phone number
Those who aren’t a member of a reputable trade group, such as the Federation of Master Builders or the National Federation of Builders
Their workforce keeps changing
They repeatedly find further work that needs completing
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