Do not be a home improvement April Fool

Consumers should be careful to not be taken in by home improvement scammers, it has been asserted.

Todd Recknagel, president of the home repair and maintenance firm Mr Handyman, explains that spring is the peak time when such con artists take advantage of homeowners who may be considering installing a conservatory or making another improvement to their house.

"Doing background checks and making sure you trust a person before you sign a contract or hire them to do work in your home is imperative – and we want to relay that message to individuals looking to get work done around their home this year," he adds.

Concluding, Mr Recknagel explains that many homeowners make a list of things to be done during the winter months and begin to work on them during spring and as such it is a prime time for cowboy builders.

Meanwhile, home insurance provider RIAS recently suggested that horticulturalists should also take steps to protect their homes from opportunistic burglars.