Research Shows: More than Half of Britons Wouldn’t Consider a Fixer-upper

Over 80% of Britons sometimes put off a DIY task
Many Britons struggle with procrastinating on DIY tasks around the house. A loose doorknob, a shower with weak water pressure, or an attic that’s been waiting for flooring for years. These are the kinds of small jobs that keep coming up, but you always have to force yourself to do them. And if even that’s difficult, it’s no surprise that the idea of a fixer-upper is absolutely not an appealing prospect for more than half of Britons. Plasticsheetsshop researched procrastination at home and discovered why DIY tasks are constantly being postponed.

Women postpone DIY tasks more often

The study shows that more than half of Brits postpones a task at some point. About half do this occasionally, and more than 1 in 3 (34%) do it very often. Still, there is also a small group that takes immediate action: 3% tackle every task as quickly as possible. In addition, 13% indicate that they only postpone a task if it’s a truly unpleasant one.

The difference between men and women is striking. 41% of women say they regularly postpone DIY tasks, compared to just 27% of men.

Motivation: The Biggest Barrier

The biggest reason? Not wanting to start. For almost 1 in 3 (31%) of Britons, motivation is simply nowhere to be found. Uncertainty about their own DIY skills also plays a role: 31% don’t know how to begin. A lack of time is in third place: 22% say they are too busy with work or other obligations. For 14%, money is the biggest obstacle; they currently lack the financial means to tackle a project and therefore put it on the back burner.

The fact that DIY isn’t for everyone is also clear from attitudes toward fixer-uppers. As many as 61% of the Britons wouldn’t even consider one. Still, there is also a group that sees potential: Almost 1 in 10 (9%) have already bought a fixer-upper, and another 9% even think it’s a great idea. In addition, a third of those surveyed have considered taking on such a challenge.

Length of Postponement

We know that postponing DIY tasks is no longer a secret, but when do we actually get to work? 41% of Brits postpone a task for an average of a few weeks. In contrast, 27% tackle the job more quickly, only putting it off for a few days. For 24%, the task is put off for even longer; they postpone it for an average of a few months. And then there’s the ultimate procrastinator: 8% wait longer than a year before they finally start the job.

The least favourite task? Maintenance (38%), such as painting or a major clean-up of the garage.

Curious about the rest of the research results? View the research page here.

Methodology

For this study, 812 Britons were asked about their DIY habits in a survey between August 1 and August 22. 

About Plasticsheetsshop
Plasticsheetsshop is a webshop specializing in the supply of plastic sheet material. We offer a wide range of sheets in various thicknesses and colours including PVC, Plexiglas, Polycarbonate, HPL, Trespa®, and Dibond. Additionally, we provide various technical plastics cut to size.