LONDONERS plan to splash out twice the national average on improving their pad during the coming year, according to a recent survey.
The research carried out with 1,000 homeowners last month by Checkatrade.com, which provides access to qualified, vetted and monitored trades people, reveals on average Brits plan to splash out £4,000 on home improvements during the next 12 months. However, Londoners will spend nearly twice that amount with an average of £8,000.
When asked about primary improvement goals, saving energy was a low priority, with just five per cent of survey participants rating it as a primary improvement goal and a mere nine per cent planning to fit energy efficiency improvements such as double glazing.
And half said they did not know what the Green Deal was – it is a Government scheme that allows homeowners to borrow money for energy improvements then pay off the loan through energy bill savings.
Checkatrade.com's survey also reveals that:
More than half of those surveyed find home improvements a chore but homeowners in London, the North East and Wales enjoy them the most.
Young people are more likely to focus on comfort and appearance jobs and more are confident in their DIY abilities.
Half of respondents plan to decorate and two thirds would tackle decorating themselves.
More than a quarter of men said they would tackle external jobs such as guttering or roofing.
If money was no object, extensions and conversions (27 per cent) were top of the list of improvements followed by a new or improved kitchen or bathroom (24 per cent).
When it comes to choosing a tradesperson, the survey shows people are wising up to rogue traders. In Checkatrade.com's annual 2011 homeowner survey just five per cent said they would use a vetting service such as Checkatrade.com. This figure has virtually quadrupled to 20 per cent in 2013.
In 2011 half said they would trust a word-of-mouth recommendation compared to three quarters in 2013.
