DIY is sexy

DIY managers and do-it-yourselfers knew it all along, now a reliable source has made it official: Men who are skilled with their hands and know how to make themselves useful around the house, are attractive. After intelligence and good breeding, it is the practical abilities that women value the most in men.
Well, at least that is one of the conclusions that the authors of the European Home Report have drawn from the latest survey. The British DIY group Kingfisher has carried out a survey for the second time since 2012, seeking answers from 17 000 households in countries where the company operates, i.e. Great Britain, France, Ireland, Poland, Spain, Russia, Romania, Germany and Turkey.
The report admittedly contains some other, possibly more market relevant findings. To put it in a nutshell: Changing trends and demographic developments have more effect on the housing situation than ever before.
That means that three quarters (77 per cent) of Europeans believe that their home needs to be adapted to suit their current family situation, a fifth (22 per cent) indicated that they need more space. Almost half of the respondents (46 per cent) said they would like to have or already have a home office.
Another finding of the survey is that the majority (65 per cent) worry about rising energy prices. That is the reason why eight times more people than two years ago, see energy savings measures at the top of their priority list: Almost a third (31 per cent) now want to improve the energy efficiency of their house or apartment.
There are however, also very different reasons to improve one’s housing situation: 39 per cent want to show that they are successful and impress their friends. Maybe it is a sign of increasing consumer confidence that peoples’ priorities are first and foremost: swimming pools (28 per cent), fireplaces (26 per cent), conservatories (23 per cent) and hot tubs (22 per cent). These are the features people want the most.
However, one of the most significant findings from the report for the DIY industry is that home improvements are becoming more and more important. The number of homeowners using home improvement to increase the value of their home has quadrupled from 17 per cent in 2012 to 68 per cent in 2014.
Finally the report has found some evidence that Europeans are becoming better DIYers. Nevertheless there are still a lot of people who are all thumbs when it comes to DIY: As a matter of fact, 40 per cent do not feel they are capable of…