It is said that an Englishman’s home is his castle. But for many, it is also our safe place and our sanctuary. It’s where we have free rein to be ourselves and let our personality shine with our choice of design and decoration. But most importantly, our homes are probably the biggest investment we’ll make in our lifetime.
And of course, shrewd advisors will always tell you to look after your investment.
This is probably why the home renovation industry is showing no sign of shrinking. In fact, post-pandemic levels can only be described as booming, with skilled tradespeople seeing a 50% increase in demand during the last two years! From small updates to full-blown extensions or self-builds, us Brits just can’t get enough of home improvements.
The Rising Cost of Renovations
While spending more time at home has undoubtedly got us itching to make improvements, both Covid and Brexit have presented challenges in the supply of materials, increased working costs and workforce shortages. All of which contributed to a 15% rise in home improvement costs last year.
So, if our money isn’t going as far as it once did, surely it would make sense to make more careful considerations on how and where it is spent. For instance, while not as exciting, a functioning roof should always be prioritised over a sparkling new bathroom. And securing our properties with high-quality doors, windows and garage doors is more important than the latest wallpaper or the swankiest tiles.
Basically, invest wisely in anything that is structural or is essential to a watertight home so that your property remains sturdy and secure for years and years to come. That way, when finances allow, you can follow all the latest trends and go wild with decoration and design to your heart’s content!
Try Before you Buy
Another way to make sure your money is working as hard as it can is to only use trades or buy materials that you’re confident in. Many of us love shopping online, and there is often a bargain to be found but be sure to do your research before hitting that ‘buy’ button. Is the company reputable and are its products high-quality? Look for independent reviews on sites such as Trustpilot, Checkatrade or Google Reviews. Can you see examples of their work/products?
If a price seems too good to be true, check that the product is like-for-like with higher priced versions, and where possible, don’t compromise on quality for a cheaper product. Remember the saying ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ and ask yourself if it’s worth it.
If you can, try and physically see the product or materials first. Especially for large ticket items and products that will impact on your home’s security or structural integrity. Showrooms are perfect for testing out products and getting close enough to see if the quality is what you’re looking for. If your supplier doesn’t have a showroom, ask if they can show you examples of their previous work (and try and visit previous sites if possible).
Trade Shows
If you’re embarking on a big project, or are looking for ideas and inspiration, trade shows such as The Homebuilding & Renovating Show are an ‘all under one roof’ venue for everything from taps to complete builds.
Bursting at the seams with knowledgeable experts, they’re a great place for picking up tips and advice. Plus, most companies will use their stands to showcase their products, giving you ample opportunity to get up close and try before you buy. It’s certain to be a day well spent as more than 100,000 homeowners found a visit to the show the most important day of their build or project. And it’s due to attract a further 85,000 visitors this year, once again proving the continuing rise in our love of home improvements.
So, despite the challenges in supply and increasing costs, demand for home renovations is still set to increase throughout 2022. If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s how important our homes are to our physical and mental wellbeing.
In summary, keep on investing in your castle. Look after it, and it will look after you.
