Home Improvements and Servicing Survey

This survey is all about home improvements and how you choose firms to provide you with essential domestic services.  It should take about 5 minutes to complete.   The survey is conducted under the Market Research Society Code of Conduct and all answers that you give will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please click on the NEXT button below to start...

Your Home

Do you own your own home or other domestic property in Cornwall, or occupy a property where the service and maintenance is your responsibility?

Yes

No

You and your Home

Which of the following do you have or are planning to install (or improve) at your property?
		Don't have this and have no plans	Planning to install	Have but planning to upgrade or make changes	Already have	Don't know
	Storage heaters (or other non-central fixed heating)
	Gas central heating
	Oil central heating
	Double glazing
	Loft insulation
	Wall cavity insulation
	Photo voltaic (PV) solar panels
	Solar thermal water heating
	Ground Source Heat pump
	Air Source Heat pump
	Renewal fuel boiler (pellets, logs etc.)

You and your Home

When is the last time you did each of the following?
		Within last 3 months	Within last year	Within last 3 years	Longer than 3 years ago	Never done this
	Carry out major repairs to the property? (£5,000+)
	Build an extension, loft conversion or other significant development works?
	Service a heating system / boiler
	Call out a plumber, heating engineer or electrician for an emergency
	Call out a plumber, heating engineer or electrician for installation or repair works (not an emergency)
	Buy a new kitchen or bathroom suite that you fitted yourself? (i.e. that you did not pay for external experts to fit.)
	Buy a new kitchen or bathroom suite that you had fitted by an external supplier
	Experience structural damage to your property as a result of an accident or natural disaster (e.g. flooding) that required an insurance claim
	Major garden landscaping work or outside construction (e.g. laying a driveway, patio, decking, drains) that required you to call in experts

You and your Home

When you are looking for a tradesperson to carry out building or installation works in your home (e.g. to fit a new kitchen or bathroom), who do you call first? (Please tick all that apply.)
	No one - I have all the skills to do the work myself or have family or friends to help
	Someone I already know and trust who I have used before
	I'd ask a friend, relative or colleague for a recommendation
	A local firm I know or have seen around
	I'd look in the Yellow Pages or the phone book to find people to quote for the work
	Search around on the Internet to find people to quote for the work
	Someone else?

Who else would you ask?

You and your Home

Have you taken out a policy with an insurance company of home repairs services to cover the costs of emergency repairs, such as for boiler breakdowns, plumbing or electrics?

Yes

No

When was the last time you called upon the service?
	Not used
	Within last 3 months
	Within last year
	Within last 3 years
	Longer than 3 years ago
	Don't know

Home Emergency Service

What was the problem the last time you called upon your emergency repairs service?
	Plumbing problem
	Boiler or central heating breakdown
	Drainage problem
	Electrical appliance breakdown
	Problem with security system
	Problem with doors, windows or structures
	Something else?
	Don't know

Could you please briefly explain what the problem was?

Your Central Heating

Who or which firm do you use to service your central heating boiler?

What is the main reason why you chose to use this company/engineer?
	They're local
	No choice, or it was determined by policy issuer
	Have used them before
	Recommended to me
	Price
	Convenient
	Good reputation
	First one I came to in Yellow Pages / Thompson Directory etc.
	Saw them in the neighbourhood
	Just knew about them
	They hold the necessary industry accreditations and credentials
	Other reason
	Don't know

Other reason? Please explain briefly why you chose this company/engineer...

Your Central Heating

Will you use the same firm to service your central heating system next time?

Definitely Not

Probably Not

Unsure

Probably Yes

Definitely Yes

Why will you not use this firm?
	Too expensive
	Didn't turn up when they said they would
	Untidy workers
	Didn't trust them
	Poor workmanship
	Prefer to use a more local firm
	Will go back to use my preferred firm
	Something else?
	Don't know

Something else? Please explain briefly why you will not use this firm next time...

You and your Home

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
		Disagree strongly	Disagree slightly	Neither agree nor disagree	Agree slightly	Agree strongly	Don't know
	I prefer to use a local contractor, rather than a national firm, for home repairs and services
	I would pay more for a contractor with a good reputation for quality work
	I would pay more for a contractor with a national brand name
	For home repairs and servicing, national companies tend to be more expensive than local contractors
	For home repairs and servicing, local companies are more responsive than national firms
	For home repairs and servicing, local companies are more reliable than national firms

Ocean Services

Ocean Services is a wholly owned company within the Ocean Housing Group, based in St Austell. Before today, had you heard of Ocean Services?
	Yes		No

And, before today, had you heard of Ocean Housing?
	Yes		No

Ocean Services

If Ocean Services offered home maintenance and repair services direct to the general public, such as general repairs work, installation or servicing of heating systems, how likely would you be to consider them as a contractor?

Not at all likely

Not very likely

Neither likely nor unlikely

Fairly likely

Extremely likely

Don't know

Why is it unlikely that you would consider Ocean Services for this type of work?  (Please tick all that apply.)
	Unlikely to ever have a requirement
	Very happy with my existing arrangements
	No reputation for this sort of work
	Would need more information first
	Expect them to be expensive
	Prefer to use smaller companies
	Other reason(s)
	Don't know

Other reasons? Please briefly explain your reason(s)...

Ocean Services

Based on your knowledge or experience of Ocean Housing, which of the following phrases would you associate with them? (Please tick up to 3)
	Well known
	Reliable
	Cornish
	Local
	Good reputation
	Friendly
	Established company
	Social Enterprise
	Experienced
	Or something else?
	Don't know

Something else? Please explain briefly what you associate with them...

About You

The following questions ask about you and your personal or household circumstances.  Please be assured that the data you provide will be used only for the purpose of analysing data from this survey, so we can see how opinions vary between different groups.

Are you...?
	Male		Female		Do not wish to say

How old are you?
	18 to 24
	25 to 34
	35 to 44
	45 to 54
	55 to 64
	65 to 74
	75 years or older
	Do not wish to say

About You

Which of the following best describes your occupation?
	Professional/Senior Government Official
	Business Manager / Executive
	Business Proprietor / Self-employed
	Teacher / Nurse / Police or other trained service worker
	Clerical / Sales Employee
	Farm Owner / Manager
	Technical / Mechanical / Skilled Worker
	Home-maker (not otherwise employed)
	Student
	Retired
	Unemployed / Beneficiary
	Don't know / Prefer not to say

About You

Approximately, what is your annual total household income (before tax)?
	Less than £15,000
	£15,000 to £24,999
	£25,000 to £44,999
	£45,000 to £64,999
	£65,000 to £84,999
	£85,000 to £99,999
	£100,000 to £199,999
	£200,000 or more
	Do not wish to say

Thank you

Thanks for your participation. Unfortunately you do not meet the criteria for this survey. Please click here to save your responses.

Submit your answers

Are there any further comments you would like to make about this survey or the topics covered?

Please click on the SUBMIT button below to send us your answers.