Our data shows that January is one of the most popular times of the year for new projects. In fact, we see a whopping 87% increase in demand come the new year. Chances are, if you’re reading this article, you too were considering waiting until January to kickstart your project.
However, while it can be tempting to wait until after Christmas to get things started, getting caught in the rush can have consequences for your home. Here’s why, when it comes to home improvement, it can pay off to start sooner, rather than later.
How the January rush might cause project delays
No one likes getting lost in a crowd and even more so when they’re looking to renovate their home, that’s why it can help to get your project off to a good start before the rush begins.
Those who do start in the middle of the demand surge may encounter the following hurdles…
- Waitlists for in-demand services
- Planning delays due to overstretched departments
- Difficulty securing contractors for the summer
- Increased prices due to labour shortages
Other delays to factor in for 2022
Regardless of the issues that can arise with a January start, we find many homeowners are unprepared for the realities of home improvement - especially in regards to the timings involved.
Our survey of UK homeowners found that most thought their project would take 6 months or less. In reality, our data has revealed that projects currently take upwards of 12 months to complete. Why the disparity?
Part of the reason why homeowners are unprepared is because they’re unaware of the changes in the industry. Both the 2020 pandemic and Brexit have had long-term consequences for home improvement and have increased the timings involved.
Reasons why projects are taking longer in 2021/2021
- Construction demands remained consistent even during the COVID-crisis, resulting in high demand for materials
- Shipping is experiencing severe capacity issues, delays, and a sharp increase in costs
- Sawmills and other suppliers were forced to stop production during national lockdowns
- Both China and the car industry have scaled up their steel demands faster than anticipated
Learn more about construction, timings, and rising costs
Start your project today with Resi
Want to get ahead of the competition? Then we recommend kick-starting your project as soon as possible. This will allow you to get a jump on the competition before the rush begins, giving you a better chance of swift planning approval and snatching up the contractors of your choice.
#BeatTheRush competition
And speaking of competition, we’ve put together an incredible giveaway in order to celebrate those homeowners who (wisely) choose to beat the January rush.
Between 25th October and November 7th, anyone who signs up to our #BeatTheRush competition prize draw and makes their first Resi payment will be eligible to win a home makeover worth £10,000.
If you’re ready to extend, renovate, or create from scratch, then make sure you sign up here. Even if you’re not ready to make a payment, you could still get your hands on a mini-make over with our partners My Bespoke Room and Lick - just by signing up to our mailing list!
