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Brits have grand designs on their own homes

Thursday, 22 September 2011 3:05 PM

Brits are spending more than 11 days and almost £1,200 a year doing up their homes in
a bit to emulate the properties featured on TV programmes like Grand Designs and MTV
Cribs, according to research by insurer esure.

The study found that Brits spend £529 a year on non-functional decorations like soft
furnishings and another £404 over their lifetime on things like designer crockery they
will never use for fear of ruining them.

Over their lifetime they spend an average of £58,550 and a year and half of their time
improving their homes, says the survey.

Some 32 per cent of those polled said the rise of TV property programmes had inspired
them to make more effort to improve the appearance of their homes.

An obsession with keeping their home perfect means that 5 per cent no longer invite
friends or relative over for fear they will spill something and another 9 per cent say they
cannot enjoy themselves properly when entertaining in case something gets damaged.

Nikki Sellers, head of home insurance at esure, said: “The rise in popularity of television
shows featuring showcase desirable homes has given rise to a new breed of home owner
driven to create a beautiful abode but almost too scared to enjoy it.”

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