Brits currently have 131 million ‘little jobs’ to do around the house – but little time to do them, research has found. Marked walls, blown light bulbs and mouldy bedrooms and bathrooms are amongst the many jobs that require attention, according to 2,000 of Britain’s home-owners.
Other tasks needing time include stained carpets, peeling paint and leaking taps.
Cupboard doors hanging off the hinges and un-hung pictures also rank highly on the country’s to-do list.
The study of 2,000 property owners found that these little jobs are waiting almost six months on average for someone to get round to seeing to them.
41% of respondents said that being busy with work is the main reason behind them leaving it so long.
Despite all the tedious tasks that are waiting to be completed, 46% of people say their house is still home sweet home, while four in ten Brits would describe their home as tidy but tired.
A spokeswoman for Homebase who commissioned the study said:
“We all have ‘little jobs’ that we put off around our homes.
“These can appear quite daunting and overtime could lead to more serious problems.
“Knowing how to tackle them is key to staying on top of things, and can mean they take little time and effort to put right.
“It’s understandable that many people are unsure how to fix certain little problems that crop up in the home and the best way to build your confidence is to seek advice and practice.
“The potential cost of a project can put property owners off too, but fixing problems early mean they won’t cost as much as many of us would expect.”
Researchers also found that 41% of Brits put off their home improvement tasks because they don’t know how to do them, as homeowners have confessed to not knowing how to do some of the smallest jobs around the house.
Mending a squeaky floorboard, a dripping tap or exposed wires leave Brits scratching their heads.
Fixing a broken TV aerial, broken window panes are thought of as difficult, while cracked tiles have one in ten people searching for help.
The cost of a job can also leave Brits cowering away as homeowners are looking at spending approximately £244 to complete all the little jobs that are currently in their home.
While in the past 12 months, the average household has already spent £190 on home improvement duties.
The Homebase spokeswoman continued:
“Our in-store experts are well equipped to offer tips and advice on how to fix those annoying jobs none of us think we have the time for.
“How-to guides and videos can also be found on our website or via our YouTube channel.”
TOP 10 JOBS ON BRITAIN’S TO-DO LIST
1. Marked Walls
2. Blown light bulb
3. Squeaky floorboards
4. Stained carpet
5. Peeling paint
6. Un-hung picture
7. Mouldy bedroom / bathroom
8. Peeling wallpaper
9. Worn away grouting
10. Leaking / dripping taps
TOP 10 DIY JOBS LEAVING BRITS CLUELESS
1. Squeaky floorboards
2. Leaking / dripping taps
3. TV aerial not working
4. Broken window pane
5. Loose / exposed wires
6. Missing floorboards
7. Broken locks
8. Dodgy toilet flush
9. Holes in ceilings / walls
10. Cracked / missing tiles
