The days of quick-fixes adding thousands of pounds to home asking price are numbered, according to a report from energy supplier npower.

Britons are currently relying on style over substance when it comes to selling houses, with nine out of ten doing everything from baking fresh bread to undertaking a complete DIY makeover, to help sale chances.

But soon they may have to use their loaf differently, says npower. Buyers and sellers are going to have to swot up on a property’s less superficial aspects as well or risk losing out when Home Information Packs come into force next year.

The research published by npower reveals that despite the government’s attempts to educate the public on Hips, over a third of homeowners (36%) confessed they still have no idea what they are.

Improving energy efficiency is bottom of people’s priority list when moving, with only nine% giving it any thought at all but as Energy Performance Certificates are a compulsory part of Hips, sellers are going to have to get wise.

Two out of three people also admitted they are completely clueless about how energy efficient their home actually is and don’t see it as important information to give potential buyers.

When it comes to understanding a home’s energy consumption, a generation gap has developed. Homeowners over 50 put their younger counterparts to shame with 43% knowing how energy efficient their home is, compared to just one in five of those aged 18 to 29.

Finishing touches left to the boys

British men are getting in touch with their feminine side when selling their homes and are almost twice as likely as women to brew a pot of coffee, bake bread or arrange flowers, to make their property more attractive to potential buyers.

Do it for others

While spending on DIY has doubled in the last 20 years, many of these projects aren’t undertaken until just before the homeowner moves out. Over half (55%) of all sellers are dabbling in some sort of redecoration to improve their property’s saleability. Scots take home improvement most seriously with 65% doing DIY projects to aid their sale. Those in the North East are the least likely to pick up a paint brush for other people (46%).

The ‘De-clutter Bug’

Over 540,000 homeowners are choosing to put items into storage and live without home comforts to project a minimalist look, in the hope that it will help their property sell.

Andrew Winter, presenter of Channel Four’s Selling Homes comments: "While redecorating and putting items into storage are sure fire ways of making a property more eye catching, people also need to wise up to how getting a good or poor rating on an Energy Performance Certificate can influence a sale. Having an energy efficient home will make it more attractive to potential purchasers as well as adding pounds to the value and questions around a home’s energy efficiency will become the norm, just like asking about miles per gallon when you are buying a car."

"There is a lot of confusing information out there about Hips and the Energy Performance Certificates but it is important that people don’t stick their head in the sand and make sure they understand what it means to them. Even if you aren’t thinking of selling in the near future, it is better to get things in order now, as living in an energy efficient home is kinder to the environment and will save money too."

npower has produced an ‘Energy Efficiency Sells’ guide which provides both homeowners and potential buyers with no nonsense, practical advice on how to achieve a good energy rating for your home and what to look out for before you make an offer. The ‘Energy Efficiency Sells’ guide is available at http://www.npower.com/HIP/