As the recession rumbles on, many homeowners may have put any plans to move further up the housing ladder that they once had on the backburner.
In light of this, there has been a growing trend for people to carry out home improvements, both in an attempt to get more from their current property and also to increase its appeal to buyers once the time comes for them to move.
And according to one sector commentator,
home energy efficiency improvements are likely to be a priority among many Britons this winter.
Home energy efficiency 'is popular'Aspect Maintenance recently carried out a survey among homeowners in London and revealed that 70 per cent plan to improve their property in some way over the next 12 months.
Furthermore, 14 per cent hope to sell their current house at some point during the next month and hope that their renovations will help in this ambition.
Commenting on his predictions for popular home improvements over the coming months, Jason Orme, editor of Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine, said: "Definitely upgrading the efficiency of the house, in terms of adding
insulation and perhaps looking at heating systems and that kind of thing.
"That is very much an issue for people over the winter."
And while giving a central heating system a green makeover and topping up insulation can help to reduce gas bills, Britons could also be making their houses more attractive to buyers by making such an investment in home energy efficiency.
Green houses 'can attract buyers'According to the Energy Saving Trust, buyers in today's housing market are most attracted to properties which will be warm and cosy to live in, with the added bonus of being low-cost to run in terms of gas and electricity bills.
Indeed, research from the group has found that buyers are willing to pay more for a house where home energy efficiency had been improved, with more than two-thirds being more swayed if the gas boiler is relatively new and the windows are double glazed, than if it has been freshly painted.
Such news could inspire homeowners that now is the best time to invest in home energy efficiency if they want to achieve
cheaper gas and electricity bills this winter and bag a future sale.
