Let’s face it, B&Q, Wickes, Homebase and a myriad of other DIY superstores cannot be wrong; people like to do things themselves.

Why pay a plumber to fit a new tap washer, when you can do it yourself?

If the plug leaks water, the flood can be cleaned up.

Why pay an electrician to fit a plug, when you can do it yourself?

If the plug short-circuits the fuse can be easily replaced.

Why pay a builder to lay some paving slabs, when you can do it yourself?

If the slabs subside, then can be easily relayed.

Why pay a lawyer to write a Will, when you can write one yourself?

If you get it wrong, you can always re-sign it. Oh erm.

Over twenty five years ago, on my first day of work in a law firm in London my boss, a senior Solicitor, was discussing with me his strongroom packed with Wills.

Pointing at the hundreds of Wills, he said “Look at it this way, I don’t see these as assets but rather each one is a negligence claim waiting to happen.”

My boss was approaching his retirement and so had decades of experience in Will writing. Despite this, his realistic approach was that there may be mistakes in some of the Wills but no one can say which Will nor what mistakes have occurred.

In all likelihood, the only time a mistake is found is when it is too late.

When you have died and are no longer around to sign another one.

So it is worth taking the risk and going the DIY route?

Well in answering this let me tell you about my recent trip to Halfords to buy a crash helmet for my 7 year old son. Looking at the range of head-gear on offer, I asked the spotty salesman the usual questions about price and features.

The answer still rings in my ears “Sir, what price do you put on your son’s head?”.

In my view, there are some things in life where the price of the product or service cannot be the dominating factor.

There are some things that you have to do right; where you don’t get a second chance.

Andrew Burcher