People in Midlands Spend More on Home Improvement

Midlands Can Claim To Be The Hub of Home Improvement, As The Only Region With Home Improvements On The Increase, Says Ratedpeople.com

September 2009

People in the Midlands have spent significantly more on home improvements than anywhere else in the UK during 2009 according to RatedPeople.com, the UK's largest match making service for home improvers and recommended tradesmen.

Moreover, the Midlands is the sole UK region to have seen an increase of 21 per cent in the volume of home improvements projects throughout this period, as revealed by the RatedPeople.com Home Improvement Index, a monthly barometer of the UK home improvement market reflecting project developments across the UK and spanning 24 different trades.

RatedPeople.com, announced that whilst home improvement in the Midlands rose significantly, there were many areas which saw a decrease in project spending. The website's Home Improvement Index has revealed Scotland saw a decrease in spending of 25 per cent, along with the South East of England which dropped 28 per cent in 2009. Northern Ireland has spent the least with a 68 per cent decrease in home improvement projects.

Ben Barraclough, gardener of Midlands-based company Eco Creations, who uses RatedPeople.com to find work, said: "We've actually had more work come in despite the recession. It seems that home owners in the Midlands are dedicating more time to their homes and gardens because we're seeing more work across the board in both large and small projects."

The Home Improvement Index also reveals that despite the economic climate the amount invested in large, decorating and specialist projects has not fallen which may indicate that home owners are looking to enhance their property for themselves rather than potential buyers, given the current market conditions.

Andrew Skipwith, CEO of Ratedpeople.com said: "Our figures show that the Midlands is spending significantly more on home improvements compared to other regions.. To show a 20 per cent increase in spend on home improvement projects suggests that home owners in the Midlands are committed to getting the most out of where they live."

For more information, please visit RatedPeople.com