Could DIY help Britons who have seen their house value drop?

Property prices will tumble for the next two years, a claim suggests, which could see more homeowners grab their paint brushes and undertake a spot of DIY while the market remains unfavourable to move.

There will be a 35 per cent drop from the house values seen during mid-2007, according to Paul Holmes, chief executive officer of Firstrung.

Some Britons may decide to change the paint colour scheme of their properties in order to tailor it towards their tastes if they choose to stay put rather than sell up.

With a lack of fiscal support expected by the government in 2010, property prices could plummet downwards, Mr Holmes suggests.

He explains that one month values may rise by 0.75 per cent "and the next month they will fall one per cent, but the bottom line is that they have to fall. They have to fall to get in line with affordability".

The Land Registry reported at the end of December that house prices fell by 0.3 per cent over the past year, which could inspire Britons to get to grips with DIY to help boost the attractiveness of their home.

Posted by Tom Homer