New homebuyers plan to spend thousands on home improvements

Estate agent comparison website GetAgent.co.uk recently surveyed 1,101 homebuyers to uncover their upcoming plans after their property purchase.

The findings show that the majority of homebuyers who purchased a property over the past six months (69%) are adamant to carry out home improvement work.

According to the study, 17% aim to make costly changes such as adding an extension, while 52% plan to make changes to the overall aesthetic of the home.

Founder and chief executive officer of GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, explains: “Home improvements are part and parcel of homeownership and January is often the time we sit down and think about what changes we want to make to our home. Whether you’re painting the bedroom or adding an extension, the key to success is planning and determination to follow through with those plans. “

“There will always be some unexpected costs so budgeting a little extra is advised but at the very least you should get a full view of costs and times before undertaking any project to avoid months on end of living in a half finished house.”

“It’s also important to note that the cost of materials has climbed substantially while the availability of tradespeople has dwindled due to high demand. So you might not be able to get your home improvements sorted as soon as you planned or for the cost you originally expected.”

The most popular areas to improve

With the new year in full swing and people continuing to work from home, it is no surprise that home improvements are top of the agenda for most households.

The GetAgent survey concludes that the kitchen is the number one area of focus for homeowners looking to spruce up their houses. Gardens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and living rooms are also of great interest.

The research unveiled that around 33% of participants expressed that their budget was roughly £500 to £1000. While 11% of participants aim to spend around £20,000 to upgrade their homes.

Tidying up the home with a new layer of paint is the most popular task among participants of the survey. This easy way to fix visual flaws can be done by yourself but paying professionals to paint is likely to be the better option.

New flooring, landscaping the garden and adding new furniture were also identified as the most common home improvement tasks to carry out.