HOME IMPROVEMENTS

TGI covers a wide range of consumer sectors including home improvements... 

• 76% of adults on the island of Ireland - 3.8 million people - own their home outright or are currently repaying a mortgage. Of these, 43% say they are 'always' looking for new ideas to improve their home. 
   
• These "home improvers" are more likely to be women (who make up 58% of the group) and more likely to be aged 55-64 (index 127) - generally speaking, the age group with the most time and disposable income.
   
• 370,000 people (7% of all adults) are planning to make major home improvements in the next 12 months. The key Lifestage groups are Unconstrained Couples (87% more likely), Playschool Parents (51% more likely), and Primary School Parents (38% more likely).
   
• Rather than move, many people are now considering extending or refurbishing their home. Last year 100,000 home owners purchased a conservatory, loft conversion or extension. Currently, 59% of home-owners take positive steps to reduce the amount of energy they use, up from 55% in 2008. 
   
• On a smaller scale, 50% of home-owners consider themselves to be good at fixing things (58% of men, 42% of women); in contrast, 41% only do DIY if they 'absolutely have to'. 

• The type of DIY undertaken varies by Lifestage. Playschool Parents are the group most likely to lay a patio or decking (index 148), while Primary School Parents are the group most likely to put up shelves (157).
   
• Meanwhile, Unconstrained Couples are the group most likely to undertake an elective activity such as refurbishing / renovating old furniture (138).
   
• The average home-owner spent €345 on materials for DIY in the past 12 months. A select group - 150,000 people - spent more than €1350. 
   
• Just under half of home-owners agree that magazines give them ideas for how to improve their home. 59% of women think so, compared to 38% of men.
   
• 82% of home-owners have a garden. Almost 40% of home-owners bought weedkiller, 36% bought plants / shrubs or trees and 35% bought bulbs. Half of home-owners say they 'get a good deal of pleasure' from their garden.  
   

Base: All adults 15+  

Source: Republic of Ireland TGI & Northern Ireland TGI 2010 (combined dataset)

Please click here to find out more about TGI Ireland

For further information

Please contact:

Eimear Faughnan
+44 208 433 4323
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