Homeowners Scramble To Find More Free Time (NAPSA)—Bayer Lawn Care Institute recently released consumer survey data that revealed that 60 percent of those surveyed believe they have less free time now than theydid five years ago, with 40 percent of these respondents indicating they have far less free time now thanfive years ago. The nationwide survey, conducted by International Communications Research (ICR) on behalf of the Bayer Lawn Care Institute, surveyed 500 homeowners with children and asked a variety of questions relating to free time. The objective of this survey was to determine how consumers view their free time and what they are willing to do to acquire moreofit. “As a homeowner andfather, I understand how important and valuable free time is to me and my family,” stated Scott Welge, director of marketing, Bayer Environ- mental Science. “This survey sought to further understand how our end users are viewing and valuing their free time. Garnering this information will allow us to ensure that our products and services are maximizing their value to our customers and end users,” he continued. and cell phones maintain a strong presence in many homes, it is often assumed that these technologies create more free time; however, quite the opposite seems to hold true,” noted Welge. “Personally, I have found that I now have to work harderto protect my free time,” he continued. Sixty percent of homeowners polled believe they have less free time now than they did five years ago. Survey results show that most adults with children spend 50 percent or less of their free time on household responsibilities. However, significantly more women (89 percent women versus 27 per- cent men) feel they spend more than 50 percent of their time on household responsibilities, while more men (72 percent men versus 56 percent women) feel they spend 50 percent or less of their time on such responsibilities. “In an era when the Internet On average, the group of adults surveyed value an hour of their free time at $94. Additional results show that the average homeowner spends nearly eight hours each week on lawn care and landscaping tasks around the home and would consider hiring a professional service in order to acquire morefree time. The telephone survey, conducted in July 2007, was developed by the Bayer Lawn Care Institute”. The Bayer Lawn Care Institute was founded by Bayer Environmental Science in order to provide lawn-care professionals with access to information and resources that would enhance the quality of services provided to their customers. In addition to conducting consumer research, Bayer Lawn Care Institute sponsors educational seminars, net- working events and maintains an active advisory board to keep abreast of industry issues.
