35% aspire to country cottage

When asked which type of TV property they would most like to live in, 35% of people would opt for a chocolate box style country cottage as featured on Midsomer Murders.

Unsurprisingly perhaps, the northern terraces of Coronation Street hold less appeal, garnering just 8% of the vote. However, this was on a par with the proportion choosing Friends-style loft apartments (8%) and Dallas ranches like Southfork (8%).

According to a survey carried out by Halifax, the majority (40%) said they would plump for the open plan living space characterized by the properties on Ramsey Street.

Aspiring buyers declared themselves ready and willing to carry out DIY, with fewer than one in five homeowners (19%) wanting to move in to a house that requires no work.

The majority (62%) said they would even be willing to make structural changes to their next property.

Stephen Noakes, commercial director of mortgages at Halifax, said:

"There's often a difference between the dream home and the reality of more traditional properties on the market but now, more than ever, people are willing to take on their own project. Whether it's knocking down walls, converting unused space or extending – homeowners are less willing to compromise, and so are creating the perfect living space."

However, at the same time, research carried out by Halifax Home Insurance revealed that many homeowners are shockingly incompetent when it comes to DIY.

It discovered that over 50% of people under 35 years old do not have the basic DIY skills needed to maintain their own property.

A survey showed that 63% wouldn't attempt to put up wallpaper, 54% can't bleed a radiator and more than 50% can’t wire a plug.

Senior claims manager for Halifax Home Insurance, Martyn Foulds said:

"This survey strongly suggests that younger people feel they don't have the experience or knowledge necessary to tackle even the most basic of home maintenance and DIY tasks.

“This indicates a significant number of younger householders could be storing up problems for the future, as the lack of home maintenance starts to take its toll on their homes."

Many younger people say they would not even try jobs such as would not even try jobs such as putting up shelving (45%) or gardening (36%), preferring to ask their parents for help or enlisting a paid professional.