Thursday, May 24, 2007
Category:
Home Improvements
Prudential Home Insurance has revealed through new research that nearly half of men in the UK are more comfortable cooking a meal than carrying out basic home improvements.
Even though this may be the case, the May bank holiday will have seen thousands of couples invading local hardware stores before setting out on the latest DIY tasks.
It seems that the profile and lifestyle of modern men has changed so much that chores that would have been carried out without a second thought a few years ago are now carried out with a lack of confidence. The insurer said only a quarter (23 per cent) of British men felt confident putting up shelves and only 14 per cent would be able to move a light switch or plug. Three per cent of men admitted they would not like to do any household chores – be they domestic or DIY.
Phil Southgate, media relations manager at Prudential Home Insurance said: “Celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey have certainly played their part in spurring modern men to have a go in the kitchen compared to their DIY counterparts.
Compared with the over 60s, who were three times more confident with moving a light switch or changing a plug, today’s younger generation (18-24 year olds) are most likely to own no tools for house improvement at all and when it comes to electrical wiring, only 7% of 25-34 year olds were confident to do so.
Southgate continues: “Spring bank holidays often entice men to dust down their toolkits and engage with a bit of home improvement. However, as very few men profess to being confident with DIY tasks, there are likely to be a number of wannabe Jamie Oliver’s well out of their comfort zone and at risk of doing a botch job this forthcoming May bank holiday.
“Whilst it may be fun to give it a go, what is worrying about this is that as many as eleven million people in Britain would potentially be out of pocket as they have no home contents insurance in the event of an accident or botched job. Furthermore, we would advise those thinking about carrying out any DIY tasks over the May bank holiday, with or without a qualified workman, to speak to their insurer first and keep them informed of any major redevelopments - this will almost certainly help in case of a claim.”
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Those wishing to carry out
home improvements or are looking to fund a builder to come into their home, a home improvement loan could be one of the many options available. By hiring professionals to carry out home improvements whether it’s a simple case of relaying a floor or a larger task of extending a room or converting a loft or basement, DIY disasters could be avoided. A home improvement loan could be paid over a term to suit the borrower from 5 to 25 years. Work carried out to a high standard with a home improvement loan, could also potentially add value to homeowners properties.
