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Staff Reporter
Recent renovation programs have contributed to a surge in demand for tradies across Australia, according to new data.
Local services marketplace Oneflare.com.au has reported that since Channel Nine’s The Block and Channel Seven’s House Rules first aired in May this year, there has been a huge upswing in home improvement related job postings.
Data from the group’s website reveals job postings for bathroom renovations rose to 72 per cent in May, an increase from seven per cent the previous month.
Requests for demolition jobs rose 112 per cent in May compared with 13 per cent in April, job postings for patio pavers rose by 100 per cent, and requests for tilers rose 59 per cent in May of this year.
Rather than just watching contestants battle it out for the grand prize, the shows were serving as inspiration for people to renovate their own homes.
Speaking about the data, Marcus Lim, co-founder and CEO of Oneflare, said he was baffled as to why there was a sudden jump in people posting home improvement jobs specifically.
“Usually there’s a reasonablyl amount of jobs in each service category, like people searching for cleaners, plumbers, and electricians, but all of a sudden there was this huge increase in the amount of people posting big renovation jobs on the site,” he said.
“When we looked into it further, we saw a clear pattern emerging. While The Block and House Rules contestants were renovating bathrooms, there was a surge in people looking for bathroom renovations.
“When the contestants were renovating outdoor areas, there was a colossal jump in the numbers of people posting jobs for landscapers, fencing and patio pavers. It suggests that TV shows can serve as inspiration as well as entertainment.
“Importantly, websites like ours have made it easier than ever before to compare quotes, see past work from registered and verified renovators, and get the best possible deal on home services,” Mr Lim said.
A report issued last year by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) forecasted total Australian renovations activity to reach a level of almost $30 billion in 2013/2014.
Recent reports detailing the upward trajectory of Australian house prices indicate that now is a good time for homeowners to add value to their property by renovating.
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