Real Inflation on House Maintenance

dealmeister on 21/02/2023 - 10:17
Last edited 21/02/2023 - 10:58 by 1 other user

In early 2020 we got quote for two jobs for our house. One was removal of the existing fence and build a new one. The other was replacement of all gutters and downpipes. Unfortunately we could not get both jobs done due to lockdowns etc.

Last month we asked the same companies to provide us updated quotes so we are happy the jobs to be completed. Both quotes came with more than double (approximately 2.5x more) compared to the 2020 prices.

It is quite understandable that the pandemic pushed the cost of everything and we are also in a high inflation climate. We are aware that many materials like timber are more expensive due to logistics, shortages in production etc. Plus shortage in labour.

But does that justify a 2.5x price increase alone?

Just wanted to hear your opinions if you have been experiencing similar.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 21/02/2023 - 10:23
    +5

    Skill shortage and an almost insane amount of work mean many if not all trades can pick and choose what jobs they want to do.
    Many can now also afford to just quote 'f off' quotes, if they get up on the quote, great.
    If it gets rejected its business as usual anyway.
    Also hard to even get unskilled help now at a reasonable rate.

    There is also the whole materials increase too. I'm not really sure about materials like timber but freight has increased at least 25% with our interstate option, Direct Freight. Fuel surcharge increased minimum 15%, Materials wise, I lost count how many times cable had a price rise since covid lol. At one point quotes were only valid 2 weeks at a time, down from the usual 30 days.

    Get another 2 quotes for your work and see if it's reasonable, quite a lot of other factors to consider too, maybe access is terrible/awkward? Maybe you're in an area considered to far to service by that company now?

  • godofpizza on 21/02/2023 - 10:24
    +1

    yes, we got quote $80 a metre for a new colourbond fencing in 2019 and got another quote last year from the same company and it had gone up to $120.

    You may need to shop around for a better price. or opt for colourbond?

  • Trance N Dance on 21/02/2023 - 10:38
    +1

    It's not just material costs, with tradie jobs like this it's labour costs as well. No one is willing to take an effective pay cut when facing possible austerity. Prices gets jacked everyone wants a pay rise, etc.
    That combined with a tradie shortage means they can charge whatever they want and still be busy. Our regular sparkies won't even touch a light fixture replacement job even when we offer to pay them out for half a day plus callout fee and materials.

  • Euphemistic on 21/02/2023 - 10:52
    +1

    Unfortunate combination of factors. Labour/skills shortage, materials increases, operating cost increases and others. Also likely they can pick and choose jobs. Easy job, easy money. Difficult job, charge enough to make it worthwhile.

  • slknv on 21/02/2023 - 10:54
    +1

    Happened to us, we were going to get a fence replaced in 2019 but waited as the neighbour was building a new house. Did it last year, cost us twice as much. No labourers, expensive materials, it is what it is.

    • cloudy on 22/03/2023 - 20:21

      Hey there, I’m wondering how much it costed you for the fence and how many meters?

      I just got a few quotes for a short 6m fence and they’re costing around $220-260m per meter for the timber fence. I’m a bit shocked…

  • iDroid on 21/02/2023 - 11:05
    +3

    You wanna see my quotes for all our building materials and labour. Got quotes early 2021, started building late 2021 - still waiting to finish, still waiting on trades. Nearly everything is over 2x price - for a large build, this adds up REAL quick.. My life savings gone in an instant.

    Inflation is destroying any wealth anyone accumulated, and destroying purchasing power at the same time. Hurts.

  • Seraphin7 on 21/02/2023 - 11:11
    +2

    If that's the market price, that's the market price. Whether or not it is "reasonable" or "justifiable" is really only answered on whether or not people are prepared to pay it (which they evidently are).

  • Benoffie on 21/02/2023 - 11:15
    +1

    Yes, it has gone up however there is a serious lazy tax and gouging going on.

    Shop around. Find wholesalers.

    As an example, recent roof restoration quote came in at $11k+, was $5k. Needless to say, im not accepting a doubling for nothing.

  • Muzeeb on 21/02/2023 - 11:16

    There's always DIY and YouTube.

  • 87percent on 21/02/2023 - 11:19
    +2

    i was getting a few quotes over the past 6 months for some plumbing drainage work in the backyard. First couple of quotes were all over the place (some $4k, all the way up to $9k), but the last few i've gotten this year, its been closer to the $4k mark

    I ended up accepting a quote for $4k

  • Drakesy on 21/02/2023 - 11:22
    +1

    In my industry (civil engineering) quotes are valid for 3 months at the moment primarily because of this. And yes material inflation such as this is very common throughout. lets not forget people are still spending their covid cash on crappy builds in the middle of nowhere.

  • scrambledeggs on 21/02/2023 - 11:31
    +1

    I work in construction and this is not abnormal, shop around if you can but yes costs are astronomical right now

  • brendanm on 21/02/2023 - 11:35
    +1

    I'm getting quotes of about $7k to put down 160m2 if turf 😂

    • CheapandUsed on 21/02/2023 - 11:44

      For that I'd be willing to give it a go myself… or maybe I should be doing turf laying on weekends as a 'side hustle'
      https://www.bunnings.com.au/sir-walter-dna-certified-buffalo…

      • brendanm on 21/02/2023 - 11:46
        +1

        I would if I had decent side access, have put garden down one side, so only.really.have access through garage. Not sure if I can be bothered, but my tightassiness tells me not to pay that much.

      • Nugs on 21/02/2023 - 11:51
        +2

        "May require help to carry
        Total Weight 4000kg"
        ya think
        .

        • CheapandUsed on 21/02/2023 - 11:57
          +1

          I do love the understatement of that sentence.

          Can just imagine old mate trying to put this into the back of his city driven Hilux

  • tsunamisurfer on 21/02/2023 - 11:43
    +1

    All you can do is to call around and ask for quotes to compare.

    Trades is a good example of rocketing inflation. They now get paid more than prostitutes.

  • Ghost47 on 21/02/2023 - 12:10
    +2

    I wouldn’t worry too much, in seven years your property will be double what it’s worth now.

    Any increase in home maintenance costs will be well overshadowed by then!

    • hothed on 21/02/2023 - 13:12

      So if people cant afford a house with todays prices.

      How will they afford to pay 2x as much in 7 years?

      The price of something is only as much as someone is willing to pay.

      Look at the trend between house prices and interest rates. Also think about how there used to be 1 person working in the family, and now mum and dad are working.
      Is the next phase going to be intergenerational living?

    • coffeeinmyveins on 21/02/2023 - 14:56

      I wouldn’t worry too much, in seven years your property will be double what it’s worth now.

      Can we all get access to your crystal ball please?

      • Ghost47 on 21/02/2023 - 15:02

        Speak to any REA, they will all tell you the same thing, and they are experts in the field of property investing.

        • coffeeinmyveins on 21/02/2023 - 15:14
          +2

          Are you missing an /s ?

          Almost spat out my coffee at:

          REA

          Experts in the field

          • Ghost47 on 21/02/2023 - 15:45

            @coffeeinmyveins: Yes.. for both my comments. maybe I should put an /s after every comment where I say property doubles every seven years.

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