"As a nation, we’re are so interested in getting online and that can often be the first thing on our minds"
We’ve fast become a screen-obsessed nation always on the lookout for WiFi access whenever we’re on the move, and Principality's research has shown that the majority of Brits follow the same habits when moving into their first home.
In a survey polling 2,000 first time buyers across England and Wales, results showed that nearly three quarters of us (70%) would prioritise setting up a WiFi connection or plugging in their TV when they first move into their new home, when compared against other priorities, over having a sofa to sit on while watching it (40%).
Once they’ve moved all their belongings into their new home, the survey also showed that, rather than calling on the help of mum and dad, just over a quarter (26%) of first time buyers would turn to online how-to guides or books for DIY tips, compared to other sources of information. Nearly 30% of new homeowners would go straight to an expert if something malfunctioned in their house, seeking professional help from the likes of plumbers or electricians, but over half (56%) would be happy to don their overalls and strip wallpaper themselves in their new home.
However, once they’ve moved in and put their feet up, 23% of first time buyers - named ‘first time triers’ by the UK’s 6th biggest building society - admit it could take them a year or more to tackle any DIY in their new place.
Speaking about the survey findings, Principality Building Society’s Customer Director Julie-Ann Haines said: “As a nation, we’re are so interested in getting online and that can often be the first thing on our minds when we’re working, travelling or even when we’ve just moved into a new home, picking technology over getting the house actually feeling like our own.
And once we’re hooked up to the web, online tutorials are changing the way we do our houses up, with first time buyers turning to digital guides over their DIY dads. But ultimately, purchasing your first home is a really exciting milestone and first time buyers across the country can now start to make their house feel like a home.”
