TV means Brits willing to spend £11,833 on DIY

The plethora of televised do-it-yourself programmes on television has inspired Brits to take on tasks around the home.

According to a study from Alliance & Leicester some 73 per cent of Brits find their inspiration for home decoration on television.
Furthermore, British homeowners are willing to spend £11,833 in order to bring their property up to the required standard.

"TV programmes appear to make home improvements, and adding value to your home, an easy thing to do, and this has focussed homeowners’ minds on improving their current home," said Richard Al-Dabbagh, head of personal loans at Alliance & Leicester.

"Home improvements should make properties desirable, not only for homeowners while they are living in the house, but also for when they choose to make the most of the investment of time and money and sell."

While the redecoration of rooms topped the list of improvements that needed to be made at home, improvements that cost thousands of pounds were also high on the to-do list of homeowners.

New bathroom suites appealed to 43 per cent of homeowners, while new carpeting and landscaping for the garden appealed to 41 and 40 per cent respectively.

Also, more comprehensive renovations can add real value to a property.

According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) a loft conversion can add £10,000 to the value of a property, while refitting the kitchen can add a further £8,000.

"While redecoration may not add a huge amount of value to your property in cash terms, if you’re looking to sell, touching up decorations and tidying the garden can mean a quicker sale," added Nicholas Leeming of property portal PropertyFinder.co.uk.

"In this market that is invaluable. There are currently fewer buyers out there so you need to make sure you appeal to everyone that walks in your door," he concluded.

A full list of property programmes on TV this week can be found here.

Chris O'Toole