New research today reveals that over half of estate agents have reported a rise in homeowners taking their houses off the market in an attempt to try home improvement instead.A survey by Lloyds TSB found that those attempting to sell their house have postponed their plans due to the fragile state of the property market, instead preferring to make changes to their current abode.The bank noted that applications to its personal loans service for home improvements had jumped in a year-on-year rise of 19 per cent, with 55 per cent of those surveyed hoping that such interior design changes could improve the chances of a sale in todays less buoyant market.Director of personal loans at Lloyds TSB David Wishart said If you want to trade up and avoid substantially increasing your mortgage, youll need to add value to the house youre currently in.Last month the Earth Times predicted that the market for renovation was to grow in the face of a spluttering economy and housing crisis.