Bizstartup.ie - NewsHome repairs in higher demand

Launched in 2005, Onlinetradesmen.ie aims to removing the stress and uncertainty from Irish property owners in sourcing qualified trade professionals and to provide business support services to trade professionals.

It enables property owners to get online quotes, start dates and previous customer ratings back from the qualified trade professionals of Ireland from the comfort of their PC.  It has processed in excess of 260,000 home improvement projects to date.

Overall, the trend data shows a marked increase in the number of repair and retro-fit projects being undertaken by Irish consumers. It also shows a continued decline in spend on larger domestic building projects.

Data compiled by Onlinetradesmen.ie

All trend data has been compiled from data obtained from over 30,000 home improvement projects submitted on the Onlinetradesmen.ie service in the first half of 2010 and compared to the same period in 2009.   

Figures show that demand for appliance repairs has increased significantly during 2010, up 196pc from the same period in 2009 and that the harsh winter of 2009/10 fuelled an increase in demand for both plumbing repairs and damp proofing.

Extensions remain on a par with 2009 showing just 3pc growth. Most extensions continue to be sized below the planning permission threshold of 40 sq metres.

 “These figures reveal that while there is still a large volume of home improvement projects being undertaken nationwide, consumers continue to focus on smaller refurbishment and repair jobs,” said Ted Laverty, managing director of Onlinetradesmen.ie.

“Consumers remain cost conscious and are demanding quality for their home improvement spend. Many trade professionals have recognised these trends and have revised their businesses accordingly to focus on smaller project categories.”

Photo: Ted Laverty, MD, Onlinetradesmen.ie