Home improvements 'can be beneficial during slowdown'

Home improvements can be beneficial to people who are looking to sell their properties as the economic climate worsens, one expert has suggested.

Brian Berry, director of external affairs for the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), has claimed that with properties becoming more difficult to sell there is good reason for homeowners to invest in renovation.

Many consumers are seeing their personal finance situation become more difficult, but Mr Berry has aimed to highlight the potential advantage that can be gained by home improvements.

"In a more competitive housing market…it will be the up to date kitchen or bathroom that will help complete the sale over other houses that will need further money being spent on them," he said.

David Kuo from price comparison firm Fool.co.uk suggested recently that consumers will begin to reign in their spending in coming months as trouble with debt becomes a more widespread problem in the UK.