BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — If you're in the market for some home improvements and wanted them done by the start of summer you may already be out of luck- that's how busy local contractors are. Local contractors like LJ Construction and Scarpone and Sons Inc. say this Spring has been one of the busiest seasons on record.
Depending on the job, Scarpone and Sons is already set back two to three months from being able to start a new job if you called tomorrow for an estimate. Numbers from BuildFax, who conducted a nationwide study showed that home remodeling projects are up 30 percent in the last five years. Why?
“I think a lot of it has to do with the housing market. People are trying to sell their homes and move up and I think HGTV has had a big impact too. People love the shows on HGTV," Lucas James, owner of LJ Construction, said. “I talk to homeowners everyday and it’s very common for me to hear that homeowners have put in bids on houses and because they haven’t gotten them they’ve decided to upgrade their own house.”
Sabino Scarpone, owner of Scarpone and Sons, agrees but thinks the lack of tradesmen adds to the backlog of work.
“It’s hard to find good, hard working guys that have good work ethic," Scarpone said. “A lot of people would rather add to their home than buy a new one.”
