Many thanks to Katie Siegel
Please visit: www.fish4homes.co.uk
January 2008

fish4homes research reveals the extent of neighbourhood competitiveness in suburban Britain.

A survey out today from property expert fish4homes reveals Brits are so obsessed with ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ that over half (51%) begrudgingly dedicate precious Sunday afternoons tarting up the front of their houses, just to out-do the neighbours. In fact, householders are more concerned with keeping up appearances then they are with safeguarding their house prices (14%).

The fish4homes.co.uk survey, which polled over 1,000 homeowners, highlights that most of us unwillingly use our precious weekends to work on the front yard to give us that all-important, exclusive ‘kerbside appeal’, yet only a fifth confess to actually enjoying the labour.

Furthermore, the research shows a definite role reversal is happening when it comes to looking after the home exterior. Whilst men take charge of trimming hedges (51%), re-planting flower beds (85%) and cleaning front walls (14%) to show off in front of the neighbours, women are most likely to be found tackling major headaches such as re-painting doors (17%) fixing broken tiles (76%) and even scrubbing windows (78%).

Mark Fitzgerald-Cooke, national sales director fish4homes, comments: ”It is great to see that the UK is a nation of home enthusiasts and there is healthy competition between neighbours, yet people must make sure that they invest time and money in the interior as well as the exterior to get the most out of their home in the long run.

“After all, ‘first impressions’ may be important when prospective buyers view your property from the outside but once they step inside the door, it’s essential they are faced with an interior that’s in great shape to help secure the sale.”

In terms of differences in ‘kerbside appeal’ across the regions, the statistics show that three quarters of lazy Londoners admit to spending a mere 30 minutes weekly on tending to their house exterior, which is less than half of what the Scots spend (120 minutes). Geordies care most about having a perfect pathway leading up their home (82%), whilst the green-fingered Welsh enjoy tackling the more pruning type of activities (82%).