Wirral based glazing firm urges homeowners to tackle their property problems, in wake of recent study. Andrew Wright reports.

The study, which surveyed owners of 3.2 million UK properties, found that 18% described their homes as a ‘ticking time bomb’ of repairs, refurbishments and problems, costing up to £2,500 a year to maintain.

The survey, which was undertaken by insurers LV=, also found that the most common household complaint was faulty double glazing (19%).

Bebington Glazing’s Kay Finlay has urged these homeowners to tackle the problems early to save the expected financial outlay further down the line. She said: “The statistics found by LV=’s recent survey are certainly surprising, but here at Bebington Glazing, we have encountered many homeowners who have brushed property problems under the carpet only to be hit with huge costs when each of the issues become an emergency.

“Of those surveyed, the top complaint was faulty double glazing, an essential element of any home during the colder months. We encourage all homeowners to contact us in the first instance should they notice smaller problems with their existing double glazing installations including excess condensation, draughts, leaks or small chips and cracks, as if the problem is caught early on, it can be much easier to repair and maintain.”

The survey found that overall, 77 percent of homeowners had experienced a maintenance problem in their current property and a third have had to fix several issues in the past 12 months. This percentage is even higher in period properties, which are significantly more likely to have multiple issues that need fixing each year.

Kay added: “Keeping up with home maintenance can certainly be a difficult job, and while it can be tempting to put off repairs to save costs in the short term, it’s important to understand that such problems do not go away by themselves. The longer repairs are avoided, the higher the bill and the more complicated the repair eventually becomes. With temperatures set to plummet, now is the time to weather-proof your home ahead of the chilly winter months to come.”

For more information about Bebington Glazing visit www.bebingtonglazing.co.uk or call 0151 645 3830.