If decorating my first flat taught me one thing, it was that my DIY skills leave much to be desired. ‘Never again,’ I muttered, thinking that of course, with all the equity I would amass and pay rises accrued, I’d be able to hire a professional painter ‘next time’.
Fast-forward a few years, a change of address and the time is here. Am I calling in the pros? Far from it. Faced with quotes averaging £1,500 to paint two small rooms (and that’s without including the cost of paint), it seems I need to dig out those brushes again.
Between labour shortages, soaring material costs, high demand and the cost of living crisis, it’s not just painters whose rates have shot up.
I now dream about being able to hire a tradesperson in the way most people dream about Michelin-star dinners or weekends away. I’m not the only one. Emma Magnus recently spoke to UK buyers of €1 homes in Sicily who have yet to start renovations due to rising material and construction costs.
Not only are they battling builders’ schedules, their original quotes don’t come close to the cost of the work should they be able to find someone who could start now.
Back home it’s a similar story, although if you spot a tumbledown property in London going for €1 do let me know.
Renovating isn’t the quick value-adder it used to be; buyers today should build contingency to any renovation budget and schedule — and, if you manage to hire the tradesperson of (my) dreams, the costs can be staggering.
On the plus side, think of all that money to be saved by having a go yourself — that’s plans for the next few bank holidays sorted.
