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Unused children's bedrooms devalue homes

Monday, 31 July 2006 12:00 AM

Parents who improve unused children's rooms in their home could increase the value of their property by around £3,200, according to new research.

However, the research reveals that on average parents will wait two years and three months after a child has left home to start changing rooms around, despite most children expecting parents to keep their room the same for just over a year.

The situation is made worse as 30 per cent of children leave behind all the belongings they do not want when they move out. A further 18 per cent leave unwanted belongings in storage at their parents' house.

Even when children do not clutter their family homes, many parents will wait for their offspring to go through an important life stage before they start to redecorate, though 15 per cent say they will always keep their child's room intact

Nearly a fifth of parents interviewed for the survey think that the ideal time to start pulling down posters and re-decorating is when their kids have moved out with a long-term partner. However, 16 per cent of parents take the more traditional view and wait until a child is married before they start choosing a new colour scheme.

Around one in ten will not change the room until a son or daughter has bought their own property, but a further one in ten are brave enough to risk clearing out their kids' bedrooms as soon as their offspring have finished their degree or college course.

The research, conducted by Churchill Insurance, also shows how homeowners are utilising the unused rooms. A spare bedroom for guests was the most popular choice, with 40 per cent of parents opting to use the child's room for this purpose.

Other popular conversions for the space were to make them a second sitting room, a study or a storage room.

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