Competition is heating up among Canterbury tradies

As the region's post-quake building boom eases, competition is heating up among work-hungry Canterbury tradies

Local tradesman Brandon Kinghorn runs painting and decorating company Fine Tip Paint & Paper Limited and says he's definitely noticed a change in the Canterbury trade market.

"We had a steady stream of work over the past three years. We'd have five or six jobs to pick and choose from. Now you've got to chase people for work," he said.

Co-founder of Builderscrack.co.nz Jeremy Wyn-Harris said the trades website has seen a sharp increase in the number of Canterbury tradespeople logging on to look for work.

"Data from June 2014 shows the number of new tradespeople signing up has increased by 70 per cent on the same period last year.

"As the residential rebuild comes to a close, more builders are looking for work outside of EQC and Fletchers," he said.

Competition was also fiercer with jobs being pounced on more q uickly than in other regions, he said.

Kinghorn believed Canterbury had been flooded with unskilled workers who had picked up a paint brush to chase the rebuild dollars.

"People are naive. They think anyone can do [painting], but only a few can do it well," he said.

Despite a waning rebuild and a city saturated with tradespeople, Wyn-Harris said signs were emerging that "normal conditions" were returning to Canterbury.

Builderscrack.co.nz had experienced a 100 per cent increase in the number of jobs posted by homeowners.

"With many home repairs now completed, homeowners in the region are finally free to tackle those long put-off home renovation jobs," Wyn-Harris said.

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