The affordability of owning a home and household budgeting are just some of the issues facing today’s homeowner.
We’re keen to hear what you think about these issues, as well as more light-hearted topics such as DIY and how you get along with your neighbours. To do this we’ve teamed up with top market research company Populus to create The AA Home Panel.
Your views will help us to better understand and raise awareness of the home-related issues that matter to you.
Each month we’ll send you a short online survey that should take no more than five minutes to complete and we’ll publish a summary of results on our website each month. In return we’ll enter you into our monthly prize draw to win £250.
Since the home panel was created in November 2012 we’ve covered topics including how you choose where you live, home improvements and energy efficiency in the home.
‘I hope you’ll be able to find the time to join our home panel. For just a few minutes each month you’ll help us to create campaigns which will highlight the issues important to today’s homeowner.’ Brendan Nevin, Director of Home Services.
Populus (www.populus.co.uk) is a founder member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules
Women are more likely than men to have had at least one neighbour they dislike, as are those who live in purpose-built flats. Around one in ten has had their property damaged by a neighbour and 13% have been angered by their neighbour’s building work.
The majority of respondents think it’s important to have good relationships with neighbours. Only 5% thinks the perfect neighbour keeps themselves to themselves. Instead, respondents would prefer somebody who’s friendly, with two-thirds saying this is the case.
On average, respondents have decorated their homes three times in the past ten years. Around one out of ten had refurbished their bathroom, which proved the most costly room to decorate. Those aged under thirty-five are likeliest to have carried out some decorating.
Almost a quarter think that decorating nearly always leads to arguments and two-fifths find it stressful. Women are more likely than men to think that it’s too expensive to decorate.
Artex, coloured bathroom suites and cladding were amongst the worst decorating trends. Respondents also weren’t keen on inflatable chairs, artificial flowers or round beds.
Eight percent of respondents have become guarantors for children who are buying their first home, while a quarter have let their children live with them while they saved a deposit.
Four out of ten don’t think it’s any more difficult than it has ever been to become a homeowner and 16% think that owning a home is overrated.
The vast majority of respondents would make some sort of compromise in order to be able to afford their first home. Half would consider a property of a different age, while one out of ten would look for a property in a noisier location.
Over half of our respondents say they have a ‘spring clean’ each year and a third say they enjoy cleaning. Ten percent say they clean their home only once a fortnight or less.
It takes the majority of our homes 2-3 days to become messy after they’ve been tidied up and just 1% says the tidiness of their home is not important to them. Those living in flats say lack of space is their biggest problem.
Nine out of ten respondents have put together their own furniture, with a bed or bookcase the most popular. Almost half say they enjoy the satisfaction of putting together their own furniture.
(28 March 2013)
If you have comment or question relating directly to the AA-Populus Home Panel then feel free to email the PR team at mailto:press.office@theaa.com
