A study of 2,000 holiday home owners in advance of the annual post summer rush to sell holiday homes, has found that 53% of British holiday home owners have a lackadaisical attitude towards maintenance of their property compared with a more house proud approach to their main home.
‘The allure of time away from the grind for the quarter of a million Brits who own holiday homes in the UK and beyond, means the usual keeping up with the Jones behaviour is abandoned, and household snags that would usually irritate at home, are overlooked,’ said John Candia, chief executive officer of online property portal the iProperty Company which carried out the survey.
While 100% of participants said they bought their holiday home with every intention of improving it, some 79% admitted they hadn't so much as picked up a paintbrush since their first holiday even although 58% said that they visit their holiday home at least four times a year with some going as often as once a month.
Top household horrors overlooked included broken toilets, floral carpets, mismatched sofas, leaking taps and avocado bathroom suites. Other décor faux pas that have slipped down the priority list include net curtains, odd and novelty crockery and flocked wallpaper. A typical holiday sloth is also guilty of having out of date tinned foods in their holiday home and will rarely wash up straight after a meal, dust shelves or mow the lawn.
Nearly a quarter of respondents admitted to having ignored light bulbs that needed changing, 33% said their homes needed a lick of paint and 67% revealed missing doorknobs and/or handles on drawers.
Top reasons for such apathy given by survey participants were wanting to do nothing while on their hard earned break, the reduced threat of an uninvited visitor and continual procrastination leading to a next time we will do it type of attitude.
‘Obviously relaxation is important whilst on holiday, but owners should be warned that continual neglect of their homes could seriously devalue the property when it comes to selling. Maintaining a presentable holiday home is important, especially in what is a rising market where home owners can accumulate more equity and use it to re-mortgage and buy additional property,’ said Candia.
‘Our consumer insight shows that a well presented home is high on the tick list for holiday home buyers. For places outside of cities, being near the coast, warmer in summer with safe places for children to play are other must haves for the majority of those looking for a second home,’ he explained.
He also pointed out that the UK is becoming increasingly desirable for holiday residencies with 46% of the nation citing it as a competitive destination. The most desirable area is the South West, followed by London and Wales.
Top tips from The iProperty Company include trying to be objective with an annual holiday home inspection to maintain the property, keeping on top of repairs and touch up décor perhaps doing at least one job per visit.
It also suggest that those who plan on selling should have a major clear out and consider redecorating as well as using professional cleaners as this will add significant sales value if you can´t face doing it yourself. Also, holiday homes tend to end up as depository for ugly and unwanted items and owners should be ruthless.
