We have a brand-new government, and a noticeable optimism has returned. At the moment we can only judge them by their stated intent, as they haven’t actually done anything – and that’s fair enough, they have only been in power a few days.
Among the many statements uttered by various senior cabinet ministers is the pledge they have made to address the UK’s chronic housing shortage. And to that end, they have indicated that 1.5 million new homes will be built over the term of their office. That’s 300,000 annually. Good luck, and I say that not with tongue in cheek – I really mean it. But that magic 300,000 has been around for many a year under the auspices of varied governments and never been achieved – nor have we even come close to achievement.
Kate Barker, the economist behind the 2004 Barker Report which investigated the state of UK housing supply alluded then to the chronic shortage. The country is on its eighth prime minister since her paper was published and the issue has only ever worsened.
In fact, we would have to look back to the 1960s to find a healthy output (over 400,000); hard to imagine by today’s performance standards.
Of course, so much has changed over the intervening 60 years. Developing then was a simple proposition. To begin with we didn’t use the term: Developer, just ‘builder’. There was no glossy marketing or show house. And features were few and far between too ….
No heating
No double glazing
No appliances
No fitted furniture
No broadband
… and so, it followed, NO AFTER CARE – who would have needed it then?
But Building Britain in 2024 has changed – a lot!
We have heating and insulation
Fitted kitchens festooned with appliances
Designed interiors
Global connectivity
Can we realistically expect house buyers or homeowners to accept no after care? Absolutely not because in that 60 year gap the consumer has evolved. Homes today are more than just a place to live. Consumers are buying a lifestyle. They have aspirations and expectations.
They are savvy and know how to complain. And many have a daily relationship with internet based social media platforms and review sites; they understand how effective these are when making a complaint.
Tough as this all is – it’s quite right and perfectly reasonable. If you’re unhappy with a product or service you should complain, otherwise we don’t progress. In fact, without progress we would all still be living in caves, and for the most part, we are not.
Today, any, and all responsible developers must have a professional after care programme. It could be home grown using internal resource, or, outsourced to an experienced organisation like After Build. But however you approach this, it is now an unavoidable cost that is business critical.
If you don’t have a formal, well trained, suitably experienced and organised team in place, providing your customers with 2 years after care, then you need to do something about it. Now! Don’t wait till the first formal complaint appears on your MD’s desk. Or until someone launches a digital onslaught using any of the plethora of available social media platforms. Or, until they seek the support of your warranty provider, or the NHQB or the Ombudsman, or national print/broadcast media.
Get ahead now. If you would like to know more about After Build and our service, don’t hesitate to make contact. There’s no pressure or obligation. Want to see our Building Britain video – click here.
After Build – the UKs leading provider of fixed-price after care. www.afterbuild.com
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