Here are the best reasons to renovate your home this winter

IT’S DIFFICULT to imagine winter being the ideal time for anything, apart from naps, roaring fireplaces and mugs of hot tea.

For anyone who can resist the urge to hibernate during the cold period, however, the chilly months may actually be the best time of year for home renovations, according to Tony Clarke, managing director of the Rawson Property Group.

First, builders are more available. Winter weather, particularly in high-rainfall areas like the Western and southern Cape, can cause delays in large building projects which require a lot of external and structural work. Because of this, a lot of developers and architects prefer to break ground on new and large constructions when conditions are more predictable. That means a lot of contractors who are booked up during the summer become available for smaller projects when the cold weather sets in.

According to Clarke, this creates a wider-than-usual pool of available contractors over the off-season, which allows homeowners to be more selective in their choice of builder.

The increased builder availability also strengthens homeowners’ ability to negotiate contracts, and incentivises more competitive quotes.

“An idle building team costs a contractor money, since there are staff who need to be paid,” says Clarke. “With the decrease in available work during winter, this puts pressure on builders to stay busy, which makes it easier to convince them to reduce their profit margins to win your contract.”

Another benefit of renovating during the off-season is that you don’t have to settle for a small-time builder with a dubious track record.

“In peak seasons, most wellestablished, top- quality builders won’t accept small domestic projects,” says Clarke, “at least not at a price your average homeowner is willing to pay. That often leaves no option but to use a “bakkie” builder, whose quality may not be up to scratch.

“In winter, however, the larger builders often have spare capacity to accept small jobs at more reasonable rates, which gives homeowners the option of using a professional team.”

It’s not only appointing a contractor that makes winter the ideal time to renovate – it can also be the most practical choice, especially when renovating outdoor areas.

“Winter is ideal for refurbishing swimming pools, patios and other outdoor entertainment areas,” says Clarke, “since they’ll largely be unused during the cold weather, and you won’t have to sacrifice their enjoyment while you build.”

There’s no doubt that gardens take a knock during any kind of construction, no matter how careful your builder is and how little access they have. An advantage of renovating during winter is that any garden damage will recover far faster than usual with the flood of growth that happens at the onset of spring, says Clarke.

It seems winter really can be the best season for home renovations, with cheaper, more reliable, and better quality building work on offer. Perhaps it’s time to break the hibernation cycle and get stuck into some property upgrades.