LONDON, August 14 /PRNewswire/ --

- Low Risk Renovation
    - 62% of UK Homeowners are set to Invest in Home Improvements (Including
      Structural, Decorative and Interior Design) to Ride out the Current
      Economic Downturn
    - 46% of UK Feel They Have Been 'Taken for a Ride' by Workmen
    - Property Guru Kirstie Allsopp is Campaigning With mydeco to Provide
      Homeowners With Tools and Tips to Help Make the Right Choices



mydeco today announced that thousands of homeowners are looking to invest
on internal improvements to ride out the recession and in many cases, sell in
the up turn. According to a recent YouGov survey commissioned by mydeco, when
questioned about the current financial climate, 62% of people said they were
investing in home improvements (including structural, decorative and interior
design).

Property expert Kirstie Allsopp is working with mydeco to help people
make the right choices when it comes to home improvements. According to the
survey, 46% of people feel that they have been taken for a ride by workmen in
the past. Kirstie comments, "Anybody who watches Grand Designs or Property
Ladder knows that people do have incredibly unrealistic ideas when it comes
to how much decorating and building work will cost. People have a constant
fear of being ripped off as they don't have access to market rates and expert
advice."

Understanding the need to get investments right, mydeco has launched a
dedicated property section on the site, which features a partnership with the
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors', Building Cost Information Service
(BCIS), aimed to take the risk out of renovation. Also on offer is expert
advice from Location, Location, Location presenter Kirstie Allsopp and
guidance on how to make the most out of your property.

Interiors Costing Tool

Developed in partnership with BCIS, the clever service, which is free to
use, provides instant quotes for interiors jobs around the home - from moving
a door, replacing a staircase to changing a kitchen surface.

This is how it works:

Step 1:

Select the interior or exterior job you want to do from a drop down menu

i.e. redecorate a window

Step 2:

Select a precise job description for the type of improvements you wish to
make

i.e. prepare and redecorate one 1500 x 1500mm window with one coat of
polyurethane varnish

Step 3:

Select the area you live in and click 'Calculate Costs' to get your full
estimate with cost breakdown

The mydeco property hub also offers a central place for users to:

- Plan their whole interior renovation with the mydeco 3D planning tool
    - Visualise home improvements with the mydeco Floor Plan uploader tool
    - Find the best trades people in their specific area
    - Get free tips and advice from industry experts



http://www.mydeco.com/property

Notes to editors

    Comment and opinion available from:

    - Kirstie Allsopp, Property Guru and television presenter
    - Andrew Thompson, International Development and Data Director BCIS
    - Brent Hoberman, Executive Chairman of mydeco
    - Survey carried out by YouGov - full survey results are available from
      Halpern