New research suggests consumers are interested in merchants that also provide recommendations for tradespeople to carry out their home improvements.
Established retailers such as Amazon and John Lewis have created a service that allows consumers to book recommended tradespeople such as plumbers, electricians, and decorators, all of whom have been vetted through a rigorous background check and interviewing process, via a website or app.
Since the relevant due-diligence gets done by the retailer, it takes away the agonising stress individuals usually experience when trying to shortlist the best local tradespeople.
Housing agents Sellhousefast.uk analysed the latest findings from market research agency ‘Eureka!’, which surveyed 328 UK homeowners to better understand the home improvement and maintenance jobs they would be most open to arranging through a retailer-led service.
It found that ‘electrical work’ (45%) is the property enhancement aspect that Brits are most willing to organise via a retailers home improvement and maintenance service, with ‘kitchen fittings’ second place at 38%.
With the huge popularity of Wi-Fi enabled thermostats, appliances, and lighting and security systems to facilitate a ‘connected’ living environment – 30% of households would use a retailer’s service to seek out a competent individual to set-up a full smart home installation.
But not everyone is sold on the idea - 26% are sceptical about a home improvement and maintenance service not having enough tradespeople local to their respective living location signed up to a given retailers database, and 21% of homeowners hold reservations because of the belief that a tradesperson from a home improvement and maintenance programme will only do the job in hand if the products/fixtures/parts are specifically from the retailer they got hired through.
The research also showed that ‘not knowing the tradesperson who would be called out’ (42%), is the main obstacle stopping Brits from harnessing a retailers home solutions initiative, and 34% of homeowners are concerned about how they would go about resolving any issues that occur after installation with the tradesperson recommended by a retailer.
Robby Du Toit, Managing Director of Sellhousefast.uk, said: “Searching for a tradesperson that is dependable can often feel challenging. With well-known retailers now allowing their customers to find a desired tradesperson through them, it represents a helpful and exciting new service. Especially, when the tradespersons involved in the schemes are extensively vetted to ensure their work can consistently be completed to a very high standard.
“This research certainly highlights the property improvement and maintenance jobs British homeowners are at present most likely to consider and use such an initiative to sort out. Looking forward, people’s attitudes are only set to become more positive towards the service as they gain a much better grasp of it”.
