Are You Afraid Of DIY Jobs Like A Third Of Millennials?

• April 4, 2019|
• News|
• Darren Clarke

Not many homeowners can work miracles with a hammer, complete a renovation project, or have a clue about plumbing – but these days, many of us do not even know how to change a lightbulb.

According to a recent survey by Ideal Home Show, young adults are lacking in the most basic DIY skills that a third of those between 18 and 24 years old would not even attempt making any home repairs.

While 22 per cent admit they would rather call in a professional than make a mess of the job themselves, the same percentage of young men claimed they simply did not want to do any DIY jobs for fear of damaging their fingernails, the article in the Sun revealed.

Surprisingly, this is even higher than the number of women (18 per cent) who said they would avoid handy-work for the very same reason.

Spokesperson for Ideal Home Show Justin Levett was quoted by the news provider as saying: “It appears the younger generation are lacking basic DIY skills – bleeding a radiator is a relatively simple task and is something that shouldn’t require professional help.”

It seems that young people either do not have the knowledge to complete DIY tasks or the time and patience to carry them through.

The survey went on to reveal that 14 per cent would pay someone to hang pictures up for them, 21 per cent would get a professional to paint their walls, and one in ten would prefer a handyman to put up their shelves than do it themselves.

There are obviously some jobs that are more difficult for typical homeowners to carry out – whether it is fixing a toilet, knocking through a wall, or fitting a new kitchen.

Of course, if you are planning on major renovation work to your house, such as installing a new conservatory in Manchester, you have no choice but to get a professional to do the job, as you will want to be confident everything goes to plan.

This is particularly the case if you are undergoing the extension with the intention of adding value to your property when you come to sell it in the future.

According to an article in the Yorkshire Post, installing a conservatory is still one of the best ways to add value to a house, increasing its current asking price by between four and five per cent on average, figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors suggest.

It is a valuable selling point for prospective buyers, as it provides a separate reception room that can be used as a playroom, garden room, an extension to your kitchen, a home office, or somewhere for you to enjoy a pastime, from painting to knitting.

Of course, while there are DIY projects that require professional help, Mr Levett wants to encourage millennial homeowners to avoid steering clear of all DIY jobs, particularly small ones.

“As well as a sense of achievement, learning basic DIY skills can help save money,” the Ideal Home Show expert suggested.