The house honeymoon is over

Back

House-hunting might take months and even years2 but new research out today reveals that more than one in ten (12 per cent) UK property owners get itchy feet in the very first fortnight of moving into their new home.

According to the study by esure home insurance3, almost a fifth (17 per cent) of UK homeowners surveyed start arguing with their partner about their new surroundings after just 12 weeks, while almost a third (29 per cent) think about moving again after living in a new property for as little as six months.

Proving that Brits cannot help thinking the grass will be greener elsewhere, almost one in eight questioned (13 per cent) begin to look at property listings online, in newspapers or shop windows after only 30 days of moving into their new home. In fact, a quarter of those polled (25 per cent) admitted that they start getting jealous of homes owned by their friends and family after six months.

Almost half (45 per cent) of homeowners surveyed said that their change in heart stemmed from being bored with their home and giving up on maintenance. Nearly a third (29 per cent) cited items breaking and not working around the house as their biggest bug bear and over a quarter (28 per cent) blamed their attitude on the stress of having to make significant repairs. Furthermore, a fifth (21 per cent) said it was because they had grown tired of their décor and furnishings.

The research also found that the average Brit spends up to £7,0004 decorating and renovating their home in the first two years of living there, with 14 per cent spending an average of £15,000 in this two-year period. The majority of this expenditure is spent on new bathroom or kitchen fittings (an average spend of £3,508), new conservatories (£3,049), new carpets (£1,112) and décor (£774). Almost half of those polled (45 per cent) admitted to spending between £2,000 and £5,000 on furniture for their new home.

Anna Ryder Richardson, TV Interior Designer, comments: "Keeping your home fresh and exciting does not have to be time-consuming or costly. Small changes every so often can make a real difference to the way you think and feel about your home.

Try to model your home on your lifestyle and make it suit who you really are - if your lifestyle changes then your home needs to also. Don’t be afraid of change but also try to re-use old items and move them around for a new look. Inexpensive ‘treats’ for the home such as fresh flowers are also always a great way of re-igniting that initial love you felt for your home."

Nikki Sellers, Head of home insurance at esure, comments: "Following a surge in home improvements and decorating when the keys are finally exchanged, homeowners should motivate themselves to regularly maintain their home and make sure they don’t become blind to any work that needs completing.

Having spent money on maintenance and giving their home a fresh feel, it’s important for homeowners to remember that the amount of money spent on fixtures, fittings and furnishings really does add up. That’s why homeowners should keep an up-to-date inventory of the items they have purchased and their price tags so, should they need to make a claim for say theft or damage to their belongings, they will have peace of mind that they won’t be left underinsured."

Top tips from Anna Ryder Richardson on ‘how to fall back in love with your home’:

- ends -

esure's press contacts:

For further information please contact the esure press office at Mischief PR on 020 7100 9999 or email esure@mischiefpr.com
An ISDN line is available for radio interviews

Notes to Editors:

  1. 12 per cent
  2. According to researchers who tracked the experience of homebuyers last year, the average time from starting house-hunting to completing a purchase is 22 weeks. Guardian.co.uk: How long does it take?
  3. esure used the independent online research company FlyResearch who surveyed 1,000 adults from across the country aged 18 and over, between 26th and 30th March 2010. Fly Research is an online market research company. Its researchers are members of the MRS and Esomar, and abide by their guidelines. Further information at www.flyresearch.com.
  4. According to those surveyed the average expenditure in first two years = £6,927

About Anna Ryder Richardson:

Anna Ryder Richardson is one of the UK’s most well known interior designers having presented on BBC’s Changing Rooms, House Invaders and My Life For Sale. Anna began her design career with a children’s interior shop, Squidgy Things and now also designs a children’s range and pushchairs for a variety of high street stores. She is also a familiar face from ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and the owner of a wildlife park in South Wales.