AND AT RISK OF DANGEROUS HOME IMPROVEMENTS
The immediacy of consumer expectations and rise of the ‘I want it now’ culture is putting householders at risk of dangerous and sub-standard work, according to new research from the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC).
The leading trade association for the plumbing and heating industry found that over 50% of 2,000 householders questioned would only be prepared to wait for two weeks for the start of a major home improvement before looking for another tradesperson with more availability – potentially sacrificing quality for a job done quickly.
Following reports of APHC members missing out on jobs due to consumers not wanting to delay, the new findings confirm that only 12% of the people surveyed would be willing to wait more than four weeks for a major non urgent project or improvement, such as a new bathroom or boiler upgrade, to begin. Despite these being considerable financial investments, the on-demand nature of consumers’ decision-making is also showing an increase in members called out to fix sub-standard work as customer patience is being exploited by rogue traders prepared to cut corners, turn a blind eye to Building Regulations or leave work unfinished.
Alarmingly, 38% of people questioned said they would not be concerned or question why a tradesman had immediate capacity to start a major project. As with many services, professional and reliable traders are often in high demand due to the quality and reputation they have established with a healthy pipeline of jobs booked in. In addition, they allow realistic timeframes dedicated to each job to avoid juggling projects. In some cases, immediate availability should ring alarm bells with consumers of this being due to sub-standard work, a bad reputation or unrealistic pricing to complete the work. A further 24% were unsure if they should be concerned about the lack of demand.
John Thompson, Chief Executive of APHC, commented: “Our members have over time seen a definite shift in the expectations of consumers who make a decision and want the finished product as soon as possible rather than prioritising the longer term view of an excellent job, carried out by a qualified expert. We’re familiar with the saying ‘If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur’ – in this case waiting time can also impact upon costs.”
“Unless it’s an emergency, when speed is crucial, reputable plumbing companies are in demand for a good reason and as a result have a steady customer base booking in jobs and this is the case for all trades, not just plumbers. For the sake of waiting a few more weeks for a new bathroom, we would certainly recommend consumers pausing to get the job done properly the first time around.”
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