- 47 per cent of builders say extensions are the most popular trends for home improvements
- With an average London asking price difference between two and three bed properties of £157,202, while the average bedroom extension cost is £35,000, home owners could make a hefty profit by expanding and selling
- 70 per cent of projects tend to be completed within the budget and timeframe originally quoted
- Most common home improvements likely to go wrong are loft conversions and bathroom replacements
- Builders advice to homeowners: plan, plan, plan
Modern British living is about embracing space and light, reveals new research commissioned by Direct Line Home Insurance1, which identifies the latest building and renovation trends. Researchers surveyed builders and tradesmen directly, to understand the latest trends in property works and redesign to identifying the changing face of Britons’ homes.
Nearly half (47 per cent) of builders reported extensions as being the most popular trend for home improvements. With the average difference in asking price between a two and three bedroom home in London of £157,202, while the average bedroom extension cost is £35,000, it is no wonder people want to expand and add value to their properties. The asking price difference in Scotland between two and three bed properties is still £45,949, reinforcing that home owners can potentially make a hefty profit by extending their existing property.
With one in seven (15 per cent) builders reporting access to light as the most common current trend in home remodelling, householders are continuing to install large bi‐folding doors, replacing exterior brickwork or fitting new skylights to make rooms appear more spacious.
Homeowners looking to create space by converting their lofts should be wary, however, as builders reported this as the type of home improvement is most likely to go wrong (36 per cent). Changing bathrooms (26 per cent) and kitchens (19 per cent) are also likely to cause problems.
It is good news for homeowners though as the majority (70 per cent) of property improvements tend to be completed within the budget and timeframe originally quoted. Builders’ estimate that only a quarter (26 per cent) of projects tend to run beyond the original budget quoted and a third (35 per cent) run over the originally quoted timeframe.
When asked what advice they would give homeowners, builders stressed the importance of taking the time to plan exactly what they want to achieve, to thoroughly research the builders they plan to use beforehand and get a minimum of three quotes.
Other useful top tips from builders include:
- Agree a quote beforehand – Set aside a strict budget but allow a contingency in case of overspend to mitigate financial strain
- Agree on a realistic timeframe upfront and remember to allow for contingencies i.e. weather
- Make sure you understand what the project involves and be completely honest about previous work done to the house so builders can be prepared
- Keep up regular communication with the builders
- Have a contract in place to cover both parties and never hand over payment upfront
- Use the same labourers from start to finish to ensure consistency
- Make sure the builders are only working on your job and commit to working on it every day, rather than turning up as and when they decide to
- Check your builder has the right insurance in place before any work begins
Katie Lomas, head of Direct Line Home Insurance, commented: “Extending homes or converting rooms to add light and space can add real value to a property, so can be worth the investment. With the rising cost of house prices making it expensive to move, home improvements are a popular way to improve your living situation without breaking the bank.
“Homeowners should take note of the advice provided by builders, as spending a bit of extra time ensuring that they have an agreed plan and budget in place may significantly limit stress levels further down the line. Having good home insurance is important, as improvements and changes to your home can impact your policy. Make sure you inform your insurer of any improvements you are planning before you make them, as you may need to increase your cover or abide by additional exclusions, for the duration of the building work.”
Notes to Editor
1 Research carried out amongst 100 UK builders between 20th and 26th February 2015
2 https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/property/london/
For further information please contact:
Claire Foster
Direct Line
claire.foster@directlinegroup.co.uk
Tel:
0165 1831672
Charlotte Pascal
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Charlotte.pascal@citigatedr.co.uk
Tel:
0207 282 1021
Direct Line
Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides car, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.
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Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc. Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling
0845 300 7838
or visiting www.directline.com