Last updated 11:24, Thursday, 26 June 2008

DON’T move....improve! Sound advice in these days of falling property prices when sitting tight seems the most sensible course of action but you desperately need a third bedroom.

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Richard Sayer

A recent report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) indicates that we are doing just that – upgrading our present homes rather than risking the turbulent property market.

But as always, there is a downside to every decision. Competition for tradesmen and construction labour is fierce and that is hiking up costs for new patios, loft extensions, garage conversions and the like.

Added to that, the price of raw materials has gone up unusually fast in the last year, partly due to higher demand from fast-developing countries like China and we can’t do much about that.

Opinions are mixed on how this climate is affecting us and our planned patios and extensions here in Tynedale.

BuildStore, a specialist in the UK’s self build and renovation market, has surveyed labour costs through the country.

They polled 500 contractors throughout the UK to get average day rates for eight of the most popular trades: groundworker, bricklayer, roofer, carpenter, plumber, electrician, plasterer and decorator.

Their figures suggested that bricklayers in the North East are charging an average of £205 a day, which is way above the UK average of £173, and more than £50 a day more than brickies in the North West.

As for plumbers, the UK average day rate is £227, but across the country, it differed from £170 in the North West to £295 in London.

The high Buildstore wage-figures for the North East may indicate a heavy demand for builders in this region.

The housing slowdown has meant that property developers are taking advantage of falling house prices and snapping up renovation bargains, making lots of jobs for those of the Auf Wiedersehen, Pet ilk, who have apparently no need to head to Germany for work these days.....

But here in Tynedale the situation seems a bit less extreme, with local men-in-the-know saying there are plenty of skilled craftsmen about and day-rates are stable.

Richard Sayer, a partner in Hexham-based estate agents Rook Matthews Sayer and regional spokesman for RICS, said: “Without doubt the cost of raw materials such as timber and stone have gone up, particularly over the past year and it is affecting those wanting to carry out home improvements.

“Whether properties are old or new people will always want to put their own stamp on a home and it is often down to personal taste, not the age of the property, as to when improvements are made.

“The downturn in new-build work in the region has actually resulted in more skilled tradesmen and labourers being readily available to work, and on the upside, labour costs have not increased here.

“There is an abundance of trained painters, decorators, electricians and joiners in the North East, so if you are looking to carry out home improvements you shouldn't have trouble finding a good labourer at a fair price,” he said.

Richard said that anyone planning work on their homes should stick to the old maxim – call in at least three tradesmen for estimates, and compare costs carefully before agreeing to have the work done.