Homeowners 'would rather improve than move'

18-Aug-2008

People are more likely to improve their existing property than move, a source suggests.

Jason Orme, the editor of Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine, reveals that people are now more inclined to undertake DIY tasks in their home as opposed to changing house completely.

He states people are "willing now to invest a bit more in the long-term of their house".

Mr Orme claims that under-floor heating has become an increasingly popular method of improving the home.

Many now opt to install features such as this on their own as opposed to enlisting outside help, he continues.

Improvements are generally made for the needs of the existing owners rather than potential buyers, Mr Orme believes.

Research conducted by Zurich insurance in May this year suggested that £1.5 billion was spent by homeowners last year rectifying DIY efforts which had failed.

The same research shows that 16 per cent of DIY tasks undertaken eventually required input from professionals.

FirstRungNow.com - how to buy a house, from finding your first flat or first house, first time buyer mortgages, shared ownership, buying with friends, gifted deposit, part buy part rent - all a first time buyer could possibly need

2012: Feb | Jan

2011: Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

2010: Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

2009: Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

2008: Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

2007: Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

2006: Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

2005: Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar