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How has 2020 changed the design industry and what does that mean for you (the client)

Its crazy to sit here and think we are in 2021 and we were only supposed to be “quarantined” for 2 weeks in March and everything was going to just vanish. As I sit here in January of 2021, I continue to think about all of the crazy things that have happened last year. The biggest change to have happened was the inflation of cost for standardized items used in the everyday building industry. One of those many things that got highjacked in price was a good old fashioned 2 x 4. Can you believe that before Covid hit, the price of a 2 x 4 was around $4-$4.50?? Wanna take some guesses at where its priced in January 2021?? Anyone….Bueller….Bueller…… $8-$9 a piece!! Holy cow! Its basically doubled the price and not to mention I am not even sure if you can find them in stock at many places these days.

So why, you ask, have things bumped up in price? Well, the obvious and easy answer is: Covid. When the world shut down for 2+ weeks, so did the manufacturing of most things. That means that for 2 weeks there were no 2 x 4’s being made or sold. Crazy! Well, now there is not only a backlog, but there are also an insanely amount of people renovating their homes being that they are stuck inside them! So, what do we do when we are stuck at home looking at the same 4 walls everyday?? WE DEMO THEM!!! hahaha and build new ones!

And to be honest, that is exactly what is happenings. People are stuck in their homes and looking at the things they have never had time for, so now they are deciding to get it done while they have the time and not to mention most people are doing it themselves. They are not going on vacations anymore so their money is being spent elsewhere, their homes. What better way to do this then by becoming “fixer upper” and Chip and Joanna Gaines”ing” your world!! SHIPLAP SHIPLAP SHIPLAP!! haha if you’re into that….haha. But in all seriousness, this is what is going on. The only downfall is that because everyone is doing it, demand is higher for items that used to be mostly purchased by the contractor doing it. You can’t even buy an appliance right now without the timeframe of getting it being months…if not a year! Its ABSOLUTELY NUTS!

Okay, so why am I sharing this info you ask? No, I am not trying to scare you away from doing the renovation of your dreams. I am merely telling you that if you want to do the Reno, then plan ahead. Hire the right people, give yourself more time to get it done and expect it to cost slightly hirer than you originally expected. It will take time, things will be backordered, products are more expensive, that is all. So, if you can sit here after I have said all of this and say “my renovation still needs to get done and I am okay waiting and paying a little more” then DO IT!! Start the project, get things going and give yourself the renovation you have been waiting for!!