Millennials not confident with simple DIY tasks, poll claims

Less than one-quarter say they are ‘good’ at handyman-type work

(Getty)

A large number of millennials do not feel confident undertaking simple DIY tasks including hanging a picture frame and changing a light bulb, according to a poll.

The survey of 2,000 adults found that putting up wallpaper, bleeding a radiator and painting walls were among the DIY tasks that 25- to 34-year-olds did not feel confident undertaking.

Some respondents confessed to having ignored a dead light bulb for more than three weeks before asking someone else to change it for them.

Less than one-quarter rated their personal DIY skills as "good", while 13 per cent confessed their abilities were "poor".

According to the poll by Plusnet, one-third of millennials have asked for help on DIY tasks because they are not confident in their own ability, while one-quarter agreed that someone else would do a better job.

One-tenth admitted to seeking assistance because they were impatient, while 14 per cent said they did not have the time to do it themselves.

Two-fifths of millennials said they would seek help from their father, while 16 per cent said they would ask their brother or mother for advice.

Google was a popular choice for advice with 87 per cent of respondents saying they had consulted the online search engine for help with DIY tasks.

However, 41 per cent said they were more likely to get a tradesperson in to fix the problem than attempt it themselves.

As a result, millennials have spent an average of £320 a year in finding a good tradesperson to mend, fix and repair things in their home.

One-quarter of respondents said they would choose a tradesperson based on online reviews while 15 per cent would pick based on value for money.

One-third have been put off choosing a particular "handy person" because of a "cheap"-looking website, with two-fifths deciding not to book their services if the website did not function properly.

Three in 10 had used social media to source help, with Facebook the top choice above Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.

When asked about the tradespeople they used most regularly, 37 per cent of the millennials polled, via OnePoll, said they had a plumber handy for frequent household tasks, and 42 per cent said the same about an electrician.

SWNS