Coronavirus: DIY upgrades through the roof in lockdown

Home and garden renovation projects have become the boom industry during coronavirus lockdowns.

Rebecca and Francisco Smout, with their children Charlie, four months, and Annabelle, two in their freshly renovated Queensland. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Renovation projects have become the boom industry during corona lockdowns as homeowners pick up the tools or the phone to tradies to do those jobs that have sat waiting for a rainy day.

As the real estate industry reopens for home inspections and auctions, spending on home improvements has defied the ­collapse in other parts of the retail sector.

Overall spending on household goods through March was up 9 per cent, according to the recent retail figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Hardware and garden supply purchases surged 17.4 per cent through the month, while electrical and electronic spending grew 11.3 per cent.

The Housing Industry Association’s Victorian executive director Fiona Nield said it appeared many people still in work but stuck at home were using the time and cash that may have been spent on going out on renovations.

“Some Australians who are ­securely employed have started to think about how they can increase the value of their biggest asset — their house,” Ms Nield said.

“For many it will be as simple as having spent a lot of time at home and making that decision that there are a few projects they would finally like to have done. Until now they might not have had the time to organise it.”

Ms Nield said tradies have also seen a notable increase in work over the past few weeks.

“The anecdotal evidence that people are taking on small home renovation projects and keeping many tradies busy is likely to ­reflect the fact that many people are working from home, saving money on travel, saving money on the big things like holidays and the little things like eating out and other entertainment and recreation,” she said

Home hardware giant Bunnings has reported a massive rise in demand for garden supplies and tips on executing outdoor upgrades. Bunnings’ national greenlife buyer, Alex Newman, said plants had risen in popularity in the past two months, with the chain forced to increase its supply of seedlings and seeds to meet the uptick in demand. A survey of customers by the retailer last month showed two in three homeowners planned on knocking over at least one DIY project a month, with general gardening, decluttering, painting and landscaping at the top of the to-do list.

Serial home flippers Rebecca and Francisco Smout understand how appealing the prospect of renovation is. After two years living in their home, the pair decided to breathe new life into their outdated Queenslander in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Albion one night over a glass of wine.

“I think (the renovation trend) is very appropriate to what people are going through now,” Mr Smout said.

“Many are working from home and they are really starting to appreciate where they spend their downtime and their work time.”