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Home Improvement Boost As People Tire Of Tiers
With much of the nation effectively back in lockdown, clues from households that were previously in regional high tier levels suggest we may be about to...
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Lockdown DIY - Huge Boost For Window Installers When A Professional Needs Calling
There is news that lockdown has driven a DIY boom which includes installing windows - and a boom in homeowners giving up and calling in a professional - including window installers.
AA Financial Services research shows that Britons who were previously in Tier 3 regions before lockdown are now 20% more likely to have made home improvement plans in the coming months than the rest of the UK. Environmentally-friendly improvements and upgrading home tech are the most likely improvement after decorating for them, with average spend twice as high as national average .
Nationally, the proportion planning to borrow money to finance home improvements doubles in a year, from 17% to 30%.
The figures go on to suggest we may be about to witness a massive surge in home improvements before New Year - with Tier 3 the most active. Just under a third (62%) of households in Tier 3 areas said they planned home improvements in the next three months, compared with 50% of those in Tiers 1 and 2.
However, those saying the chance they will spend on windows & doors is 'high' was 10 per cent in Tier 3, rising to 13 per cent in Tier 2, and dropping back down to 8 per cent in Tier 1.
Give up - call a professional
Whilst starting a new project can seem exciting, completing it is another story! With that in mind, the experts at HomeHow.co.uk sought to find out what are the DIY jobs Brits tend to start but never finish.
Interestingly, most Brits answered ‘installing shelves’, with a whopping 54% never finishing the job.
In second place is ‘painting walls/cabinets/fences’ with 52%. Whilst some people find painting a relaxing activity, it seems that more than half of respondents dreaded this task enough to give up! Sharing the second place is ‘adding wallpaper’, with 52% of people leaving this job unfinished.
Changing windows
In third place is ‘changing windows’ with 47% of people realising they bit off more than they could chew when starting such a difficult job on their own!
Energy & Environment
Back to the AA survey and of those in Tier 3 regions with home improvement plans, making the home more environmentally friendly featured in the top two home improvement projects after painting and decorating (44%).
Seeking credit or loans
The research also found the ways people were funding their home improvements this year was different to previous years, with the proportion of people planning to borrow money doubling compared to 2019.
Of people who were planning to borrow money, just under half planned to put it on a credit card (47%), and a fifth planned to take out credit with the retailer (20%). A substantial proportion arranged loans with lenders - a fifth (20%) planned to take out a personal loan, while one in six (17%) planned to add it to their mortgage.
“For many, going into lockdown for a second time is tough. People are worried about their jobs and their loved ones. Added to that, being stuck at home for long periods of time can have an adverse impact on mental health.”
– James Fairclough
Director, AA Financial Services
Improve wellbeing
"Throughout this year’s lockdowns and restrictions, our research has shown bringing forward home improvement plans has been, for many, a positive way to use time at home, to improve wellbeing and add to the value of a home," continues AA Financial Services' Fairclough. “In addition to making homes more environmentally friendly, there are signs that more people are warming to the idea of having an electric car parked outside.
New business opportunities
Other DIY projects Brits admitted to giving up on the quickest are installing new tiles (41%), installing new floors (36%), replacing taps/shower head (32%), patching holes in walls (31%), updating cabinet hardware (28%) and changing lights (23%).
What were the reasons for not finishing DIY projects?
Was taking too long to finish - 56%.
It was too frustrating - 49%.
I did not have the knowledge to finish it - 46%.
It was too hard - 44%.
I did not have the money to finish it - 38%.
Lastly, HomeHow.co.uk asked the respondents what happened to the projects in the end. The top answers were:
Paid a professional to do it - 72%.
Asked a friend/family member to do it - 63%.
It remained unfinished - 34%.
Picture: The things DIYers give up on.
Article written by Cathryn Ellis
25th November 2020