Home improvements 'could be a waste of time'

Posted: 02 Apr 2007 12:20:30 GMT

Potential house-sellers who intend to make improvements to their property could be "wasting time and money", according to new research.

Potential house-sellers who intend to make improvements to their property could be "wasting time and money", according to new research.

Yorkshire Bank has claimed that 32 per cent of people intending to sell their home are planning some DIY before putting it on the market.

However, one in three buyers (33 per cent) stated that they would redecorate when they move into their new home, to remove the previous owner's taste.

The survey also found that 12 per cent of buyers would avoid a house that is not energy efficient, with one in five first-time buyers avoiding energy inefficient homes.

Gary Lumby, Yorkshire Bank's head of retail, said: "New kitchens and bathrooms can add value and keeping the colour schemes simple could help attract buyers as it creates a blank canvas.

"But practical improvements like cavity wall insulation rather than just cosmetic ones appear to be growing in appeal."

In the meantime, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has welcomed the chancellor's plans to make homes more energy efficient, according to 24dash.


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