Checkatrade reports busiest ever week of homeowner searches

Checkatrade has recorded its busiest week ever as easing of lockdown restrictions causes a surge of home renovation searches.

According to Checkatrade search data, there has been a 134 per cent increase in searches for services since there was a relaxation in lockdown measures, plus an increase of 68 per cent in comparison to the same period last year,  with the online trade directory seeing its busiest week in its entire history on 15^th-21^st June. Tuesday 16^th June – the day after non-essential shops reopened – was a record day for searches.

The research suggests that the trades will be called in to fix DIY disasters soon too, which will be good for Professional Builder‘s DI-WHY? page, as during lockdown 58 per cent of DIY-ers admitted to suffering DIY disasters, with dodgy DIY costing the UK an average £206 per person, equating to a huge £10.8 billion nationally. But whether it’s due to botched jobs, or the public looking to build and extend their homes, all trades have seen an increase, with bricklayers up 60 per cent, carpenters up 117 per cent and painter/decorators up 89 per cent).

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CEO of Checkatrade, Mike Fairman, said, “Our tradespeople have shown their resilience during this period of change and uncertainty – and it’s paid off, as we see demand for their services increase again. The additional time spent at home has clearly made the nation start rethinking their homes – especially their gardens, as our data shows a huge increase in interest in outdoor services. Our tradespeople span almost 100 categories and are extensively vetted to ensure they can help homeowners achieve their dreams in a safe way for high-quality results.”