Sheffield Is the Most House-proud City in the Uk, According to New Research
A nationwide survey has revealed as many as 94 percent of Sheffield dwellers describe themselves as either “house-proud” or “extremely house-proud”, constantly tiding their homes and keeping on top of renovations.
This compares to a national average of 81 percent, with the residents of Oxford coming second in the house-proud stakes (90 percent), followed closely by Leicester (88 percent).
But at the bottom of the (dust) pile was Norwich, where only 35 percent of residents said their house was spick, span and up to date.
The study of 2,000 Britons, which delved into the home dwelling habits of the nation, found the average Brit spends £3,048 and 108 hours on home improvements every year.
And the average adult will spend eight hours on housework every week to keep their home looking beautiful, while we repaint our interiors on average every four years.
In fact, we are a house-proud nation as a whole, with more than three quarters (77 percent) of Brits confessing to have felt ashamed about the state of their homes when unexpected guests arrived.
The study found that 33 percent of the nation admit to tidying up BEFORE their cleaners come, while 23 percent say they like to look after their home as it’s a long-term investment.
Almost half (44 percent) believe it is important to keep up with the Joneses’ when it comes to renovations, while more than a third (36 percent) believe a tidy house equals a tidy mind.
Clare Gambardella, Chief Customer Officer at Zopa, said: “As this research shows, Brits choose to spend their money on upgrading their house so that they can be proud of the place they call home, whether that be through a lick of paint or a spring clean.”
Randa Kort, Interior Designer and judge on the BBC’s Best House in Town added: “Your home is your sanctuary, so it is key that you are proud of the space but also that you look after it day-to-day. Home improvements can be costly, but there are some great tips by property experts on how to get the most from your money.
“To get the ultimate FeelGood factor, make sure to speak to quality tradespeople if the design project goes beyond the DIY stage, and look around to see what is on trend for 2019.”
More than a quarter (28 percent) of Brits admit that seeing a messy or unclean house would put them off buying it, with one in 25 percent saying they wouldn’t dream of putting a property on the market without it looking fantastic.
The study also revealed a list of signs that you are house-proud, with touching up scuff marks on the wall with paint (39 percent), placing scented candles around your home (36 percent) and doing a thorough spring clean every year (33 percent) all topping the list.
Also on the list was ironing your bedsheets (32 percent), shampooing your carpets regularly (32 percent), and buying fresh flowers on a weekly basis (31 percent).
A fifth of those who have a scruffy home said it was because they have busy lives, 18 percent added that their children tend to mess it up and 17 percent believe they are just not naturally tidy people.
The study also found that more than a third (36 percent) of Brits felt renovating your house means you will get a better price for it, with 46 percent believing a loft conversion adds the most money, closely followed by a kitchen extension (42 percent) and new windows (40 percent).
Top 5 most houseproud UK cities
Sheffield – 94%
Oxford – 90%
Leicester – 88%
Manchester – 87%
London – 86%
Top 5 least house-proud Cities
Norwich – 35%
Cambridge – 36%
Edinburgh – 40%
Brighton – 42%
Belfast – 43%