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UK downturn dashing DIY dreams?
New research has revealed that home improvement costs are going through the roof...
According to new figures from RICS’ Building Cost Information Service (BCIS), the rising costs of transport and raw materials and a shortage of tradesmen are pushing up the costs of home improvements.
BCIS Executive Director, Joe Martin, explained: “The current downturn in the housing market is forcing some homeowners to become more creative in meeting their accommodation needs. Many are choosing to stay put and renovate or extend in order to upgrade their property rather than taking on more debt in a falling market.
“This can be a wise strategy as home improvements add value to a property, and people will be well placed to take advantage of this uplift in value when the market shrugs off the current slump. Given that the cost of home improvements rose by 20 percent over the past 2 years compared with only eight percent in average wage growth, many homeowners are opting to act now rather than paying more further down the track.
“Carrying out any type of repair or renovation work on a property can be costly; trying to work out what is a fair price to pay can be equally difficult. The guide not only provides advice on prices but also on the dos and don’ts of employing a contractor and organising building work, planning permission and building regulations.”
Huge savings to be made
There is some further good news for homeowners trying to lower their DIY costs - MyHammer - the trades and services online market place - has launched a beta version of its interactive search platform. The free, easy to use portal puts consumers in touch with a broader range of tradesmen and grows the quantity of work available to tradesmen for tender, leading to savings of up to 30%.
Free from geographical constraints, tradesmen can bid for the jobs they want to work on, leaving consumers to choose the best tradesman for the job, whether that choice is based on price, qualifications, customer feedback rating or how quickly they can get the job done.
Through MyHammer’s approval process, users are safe in the knowledge that all tradesmen’s qualifications are verified, and the customer feedback mechanism provides further reassurance when selecting the right tradesman for the job. In addition, skilled tradesmen no longer have to rely on localised recommendation - their MyHammer customer rating provides effective endorsement on a national scale.
‘Revolutionising’ trade services
Bob Swift, UK Director commented: “MyHammer has successfully established itself in Germany, giving over 500,000 consumers more choice, control and convenience when planning home improvement jobs.
"Furthermore, we have given 140,000 tradesmen access to new work helping them build their businesses. We’ve developed a service that cuts the confusion from the planning process of home improvement, and we look forward to revolutionising the trade services market here in the UK.”
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