Drilling into the detail: What’s happening with job prices?
In this article, we'll cover:
What is happening to the cost of home improvement?
Whether it’s food, energy or the cost of topping up your car – the only way seems to be up right now. Prices are rising in every industry, and sadly the home improvement sector is no different. In fact, since 2021 prices have shot up by 23.5%. That’s according to over 120,000 Checkatrade customers who have been telling us what they paid for their home improvement jobs.
You might be asking why. There’s no single reason – instead, a variety of factors are causing prices to rise. The pandemic, the war in Ukraine, Brexit and even shock factors like the 2021 Suez Canal blockage have all impacted the price of raw materials, while inflation and intense homeowner demand has meant prices have risen even further.
It’s not all bad news though. Our latest Job Price Index showed that some price increases seem to be slowing. In fact, prices rose by just 1.4% in January – March 2022.
Which trades are worst affected?
With raw material price rises arguably the main culprit for soaring job prices, it’s probably not surprising that trades that use these with the most regularity have been worst affected. Gardening services, central heating, carpentry and plumbing are among the worst affected categories.
| Job | Price increase | % increase |
|---|---|---|
| Pest/Vermin Control | +46.87 | +22.0% |
| Gardener | +£58.96 | +10.8% |
| Central Heating | +£76.07 | +8.5% |
| Carpenter | +£84.98 | +7.0% |
| Plumber | +£27.15 | +6.4% |
| Electrician | +£31.32 | +5.0% |
| Insulation | +95.40 | +4.3% |
| Bricklayer | +£59.84 | +3.9% |
| Damp Proofer | +£66.79 | +3.9% |
| Builder | +£856.02 | +3.8% |
Right now prices are so volatile that many of our tradespeople are currently only keeping quotes valid for a few weeks at a time or even only quoting for labour with cost-plus materials on top
You might be tempted to try and haggle the price of your job down. While there’s never any harm in asking, remember that trades are feeling the pinch too, and they might not have as much flexibility in price as they used to.
Where are costs rising the most?
Not all regions are seeing equal price changes, with Anglia, Central and London seeing the worst increases. It’s better news if you’re based in Tyne Tees – customers there are telling us they are actually paying slightly less for work.
| Regions | Price change |
|---|---|
| Anglia | +28.6% |
| Central | +17.2% |
| London | +7.5% |
| Meridian | +6.8% |
| Yorkshire | +4.8% |
| Granada | +3.4% |
| West | +3.0% |
| Tyne Tees | -9.9% |
What can I do to keep the costs of my project down?
While there’s no silver bullet for keeping costs low, there are simple and logical steps you can take to make your project more affordable.
- Get at least three quotes. This can help make sure you’re not overpaying – but you should be wary of any cost which seems particularly low.
- Order materials early. Price rises are showing no sign of abating, so purchasing materials early could be in your favour. For instance, the price of copper is increasing on a near-weekly basis
- Manage resources and time. If you’re planning a big project, pay careful attention to how trades are phased to avoid multiple call out charges.
- Reuse materials. Consider whether you could salvage timber, pipes or other materials which may otherwise have gone into a skip.
Have you found top tips for saving money on your home improvements? Tell us about them in the comments below.
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