After a long winter of extreme weather and the welcome emergence of spring, record numbers of homeowners have been searching for expert tradesmen to not only repair and maintain their properties, but also to improve the interior and exterior of their homes, with searches for window installers and glaziers reportedly rising by 557%.
,TrustMark, the government endorsed quality mark for expert tradesmen, has seen the number of searches across all trades increase by 79% in just four months compared to the same period last year, which indicates that the total searches for 2014 may double that of 2013.
,The improved Spring weather, recovering economy and increased consumer confidence is said to have brought a change in homeowners’ searching patterns as more people have been seeking professionals to carry out home improvements both inside and outside of their home.
,Searches for window installers and glaziers have reportedly seen a ‘sharp rise’ in 2014 (557%), as have plasterers and renderers (88%), plumbing and heating engineers (83%), air conditioning specialists (79%), painters and decorators (77%), handymen (77%) and electricians (52%).
,Expert roofers (up 915%), flood recovery specialists (up 198%), fencers (up 128%), garden landscapers (up 94%) and trees surgeons (up 91%) were also among the trades that saw the highest rise in searches. Perhaps in light of the recent flooding, searches for damp proofing and timber treatment specialists have increased by 156% in 2014 compared to same period in 2013.
,Stuart Carter, head of PR and marketing at TrustMark, said: “With many properties still being repaired after the devastating floods, more and more homeowners are realising the importance of using quality and reputable firms to help protect their most valuable asset, their home. TrustMark is here to help provide consumers with choice, confidence and protection and to signpost them to reputable local firms and expert tradespeople working to government endorsed standards.”
,TrustMark’s database of more than 21,000 licensed trades offers homeowners the ability to search for skilled local tradesmen in their postcode, and TrustMark is the only scheme that requires qualified inspectors to check every firm’s technical skills through on-site inspections. All TrustMark registered firms are required to comply with high standards of workmanship and trading practices, as well as business practices and customer satisfaction.
