trade professionals – The Interiors Addict

Who takes the prize for most expensive trade in NSW?

We all know how important good tradespeople are to the success of your reno. They truly can make or break it with their skills and costs. Picking the right tradie is just one part of the equation however. Budgeting for them is the other and this is where many renovations either go full steam ahead or grind to a halt.

Working out how much to set aside for each of the tradies you’ll need to hire can be a tricky process. With this in mind, ServiceSeeking.com.au recently released their quarterly Tradie Price Index which gives an insight into what you can expect to pay for the individual services required.

After taking a 2.5 per cent drop at the start of the financial year, tradie prices in NSW are back up 9 percent to kick off 2017. The Tradie Price Index released on the 23rd January revealed a significant hike in the cost of hiring a tradie in NSW. The weighted average hourly rate currently sits at $64.46 which is over $5.00 more expensive than the previous quarter.

Why the price hike? ServiceSeeking SEO Jeremy Levitt attributes it to the housing affordability crisis currently sweeping through NSW. “Housing affordability in NSW is becoming increasingly dire and we’re seeing less and less properties on the market,” says Jeremy. “It only makes sense that people are choosing to renovate rather than upsize to a new place.”

So who takes the prize for the most expensive trade in NSW?

Image source: Tradie Point

Plumbers still take the prize as the most expensive tradie, charging on average $70.46 per hour, up 5 per cent on last quarter.

Electricians take out second place across the state, with an average hourly rate of $75.43, a price which has increased by 7.2% since last year.

Landscapers ($70.46) and Painters ($50.49), however, are the ones to watch this year, both recording huge hikes in the last quarter of 14.2 percent and 13.2 percent respectively.

Image source: ServiceSeeking.com.au

Hourly rates are “gross” rates and aside from including the cost of labour, also cover the cost of running the business including insurance, tools, work vehicles, insurance and superannuation. The prices were derived by comparing a sample of 52,000 quotes submitted during the FY17 Q2 through ServiceSeeking.com.au

Want to find out how to pick the perfect tradie for your job? Check out Naomi Findlay’s post on what to look for (and avoid!)

Resolving disputes with your tradie, it’s all about communication!

Let’s face it, having home improvements done can be a stressful experience. Besides the inconvenience and expense, there is the small matter of dealing with any number of contractors. Getting your leaking tap fixed is one thing, larger projects are necessarily more complex.

The most common home improvement-related disputes typically arise around:

Contractual issues — non-completion of a project or disputes based around payments and timeframes
Workmanship — poor quality work and/or defects.

Disputes are a real time sucker — you really do want to avoid them. Your job invariably ends up in limbo and costing more than you budgeted for. So, how to avoid becoming embroiled in all this unpleasantry?

Have the conversation

First thing is to address the individual or business directly, detailing the issue you have. This could be in person or over the phone. This approach can yield results and help to clear up a simple misunderstanding. You can then get your project back on track!

If not, the next step is to send a written complaint via email or a formal letter. Don’t forget to keep a record of all your communications with them, specifically who you talked to and when.

If you do reach an agreement, you should confirm this in writing with the business. This is to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

Last resort?

If you cannot resolve the matter with your tradie, it is time to take your dispute to the public body in your state — for example, Consumer Affairs Victoria or NSW Fair Trading. There are also industry bodies, such as Master Builders, who offer a similar service. They will attempt to mediate and resolve on your behalf. This can be a lengthy process, but it can help prevent the dispute ending up in court. Think more time and more expense!

Don’t forget the details

If you want to avoid the inconvenience of a dispute, screening your tradie before you hire them is a useful first step. Whilst it offers no guarantees, it does ensure that your tradie is qualified for the work they carry out.

So take the time to ask the right questions, such as:

Are you licensed for the work you carry out?
Are you insured?
Do you have recommendations from past clients?
Can I have a written quote?

Don’t forget to get a written contract for your project. This is a legal requirement for jobs over a certain value. This varies by locality, so check before you get your project rolling. The bigger your job the more detail you need in that document, including scope of work, timeframes, warranty info and payment schedules.

Remember, communicating with your tradie from day one is the best way to avoid any misunderstandings and preempt any potential disputes. Happy renovating!

— Craig Gibson is online editor of hipages.com.au, Australia’s largest network of trade professionals.