A recent survey by Barclays and television property expert, Phil Spencer, has highlighted that the average person in Britain stays in their home for 19 years before moving, with over half of UK homeowners choosing to make improvements to their current home instead of moving to a new property.
The top reasons for improving their home included to increase the value of their property, to share on social media and to reflect their personal taste.
However, if you are looking to add value to your home it is worth ensuring that you are carrying out the right type of work. With 60% of respondents describing it as a property turn off, it is worth avoiding woodchip wallpaper. Other home improvement faux pas include mirrored ceilings, carpeted bathrooms or ugly blinds.
At the other end of the scale, installing bi-fold external doors was the most desired home improvement, with 30% of people surveyed saying it was something they would like to have in their home.
The survey revealed that 79% of homeowners had made improvements to their home in the last two years, with 73% of respondents wanting to make improvements in the next 12 months.
Reviewing the survey results, property expert Phil Spencer commented:
“There has long been an appetite for home improvements in the UK, and with so many of us now staying in our properties for such a long time, it is clear that our homes are so much more than just bricks and mortar”.
“It is also really interesting to see how social media is impacting on our attitude to home improvements. It’s clear that the likes of Instagram and Pinterest are really inspiring particularly the younger generation and I’m sure this is partly contributing to the changing interior tastes. I would encourage anyone looking to update their home to take inspiration where they can, but always think about the long-term – ask yourself how something will look in 3, 5, 10 years before committing your time and money.”
At The Sash Window Workshop we specialise in replacing and repairing timber windows and doors in period properties. All our new windows and doors are bespoke, made to meet your exact requirements. Our goal is to improve both the look and value of your property by ensuring that the windows and doors are not only as energy efficient as possible, but also in keeping with the architectural style of the building.
To obtain a free, no obligation quotation contact us on: 01344 868 668.
To read the report from the research in more detail, please click here.