Is your home built to last?

In Britain, on average, we each spend a whopping £700 per year replacing broken or unwanted possessions, demonstrating that skimping on quality is costing Brits a small fortune. This is according to the 2,000 people we asked as part of our recent research into how much we spend on the things we buy, and whether we still consider quality as an important part of the purchasing decision.

Surprisingly, only one third of modern purchases are ‘Built to Last’. Those we asked confessed that 60% of all the purchases they make are on a ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ mentality.

That’s not all, our survey revealed that 69% of UK residents believe that products made 20 years ago last longer than those made today. So, it raises the question - are standards slipping?

Perhaps it’s safe to say that we live in a throwaway culture, and are regularly bombarded with offers that can seem too

tempting to pass up, but as the survey shows, buying cheap and cheerful isn’t always best.

It is also increasingly rare to find products that will stand the test of time and the expectations of product lifespans are dropping.

The research also revealed the huge amount that we each spend replacing broken possessions and homewares - a figure that can be reduced dramatically if we choose high quality products with a longer manufacturer’s guarantee.

Home improvements are expected to last much longer than most purchases that we make, with a new kitchen or bathroom expected to last up to 13 years.

The average UK homeowner anticipates having to replace windows and doors in the home after less than 16 years, while UK residents would look to replace wooden flooring and carpets after 12 years.

Cars have a longer-term expectation, with the average lasting 11 years. The likes of burnt-out electric tooth brushes, however, only last 4 years, and mobile phones last just 5 years and kettles just one year longer with 6 years.

Fridges, freezers and ovens are expected to last ten years. A dishwasher will keep going for 8 years before calling it a day.

The average home stereo is expected to pack in after a decade of use, while the springs start to come through our mattresses after nine years.

Fashion is throwaway for most young Brits; only 34 per cent are willing to spend more money on higher-quality apparel.

When asked to estimate the value of the clothes they throw away annually, the average Brit reckons they chuck almost £90-worth of garments each year.

Fifty-nine per cent would describe themselves as ‘ruthless’ when it comes to chucking their belongings, with old clothes most likely to make the heap.

The bin man will also collect £80-worth of furniture, £77-worth of electricals and £73-worth of home appliances from each Brit per year.

Almost half of Brits throw things away to clear space in their home, while a quarter falls out of love with their belongings as current styles change.

One in seven get genuinely stressed out by their stuff and need to clean house regularly, and a nonchalant 5 per cent confess to throwing their things away without really thinking about it.

When it comes to a high-quality build, 70 per cent of 18 to 35s think home appliances need to meet the gold standard, while 78 per cent of over 55s like their white goods to last.

The 1,000 over 55s who were surveyed care more about build quality than younger generations but are less confident about fixing broken appliances and items themselves, with only 35 per cent willing to get stuck in with home maintenance.

It was encouraging to see that products made in Britain are regarded as much better quality, with 40 percent of people tending to choose items made here in the UK, which is why Origin wears its ‘made in Britain’ badge with pride.

It’s interesting that cost and quality were most likely to influence the buying decision. However, for home items such as windows and doors that are built to last, we would always advise weighing up the initial cost against the lifespan of the product, as it’s often a no brainer to spend a little more from the start for a much longer lasting, better quality product.

How long Brits think items should last in years

1. 1Car — 11.23
2. 2Oven/Cooker — 10.32
3. 3Stereo system — 10.27
4. 4Freezer — 9.95
5. 5Fridge — 9.76
6. 6Garden equipment — 8.8
7. 7TV — 8.72
8. 8Mattress — 8.68
9. 9Tumble dryer — 8.4
10. 10Washing machines — 8.2
11. 11Microwave — 8.13
12. 12Dishwasher — 8.09
13. 13Garden mower — 8.09
14. 14DVD player — 7.99
15. 15Kitchen equipment — 7.95
16. 16Hedge trimmer — 7.89
17. 17Food processor — 7.86
18. 18Vacuum cleaner — 7.89
19. 19Coffee maker — 7.13
20. 20Iron — 7.04

Rest assured, however, with Origin, everything is precision engineered, handcrafted and manufactured with exceptionally high quality components, so you can guarantee that our products are certainly built to last.

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