Fix-it costs depend on location

By ELEANOR BLACK

The cost of hiring a tradesperson may be the same today as three years ago, but where you live makes a huge difference to the bottom line.

A Consumers Institute survey of 1200 companies in 18 centres uncovered the cheapest and most expensive average hourly rates for tradespeople.

It found that the cost of computer repairs had plummeted since the last survey in 1998, from an average $58 an hour to $41, while plumbers, mechanics and electricians at the top end of the market are charging between $4 and $9 more.

Trade industry experts told the Herald that regional differences in hourly rates reflected the amount of available work and its difficulty.

But some were surprised at the survey's results, wondering if they truly represented the market.

Builders in Rotorua and Hamilton were found to charge as little as $20 an hour compared with their counterparts in Wellington, who charge up to $43.

Wellington is also home to the country's cheapest painters ($19), costliest plumbers ($56, shared with Auckland) and most expensive whiteware specialists ($72).

Palmerston North painters charge up to $43 an hour. Invercargill has the cheapest plumbers ($31) but priciest electricians ($68), according to the postal survey.

Blenheim electricians charge the lowest average hourly rate ($26) and its whiteware specialists are also the least expensive (again $26).

Mechanics' rates range from an average low of $34 an hour in Whangarei and Wanganui to $62 in Rotorua, New Plymouth and Christchurch.

New Plymouth offers the cheapest TV/video repair ($27) and Dunedin the most expensive ($96), while computer work is cheapest in Nelson ($28) and most expensive in Hamilton ($129).

A Herald comparison of prices found that the cheapest place to get work done - if you shop around -is New Plymouth.

Wellington residents are hit with the highest quotes overall and the people of Christchurch have to sort through the most varied.

A Christchurch homeowner hiring a painter, builder, plumber, electrician, mechanic, whiteware specialist, TV servicer and computer technician for one hour could find the overall cost varying up to $243, depending on the contractor.

Ray Barbara, general manager of the Electrical Contractors Association, said he was astounded at the range of electricians' hourly rates in Invercargill, from the $38 average low to the national high of $68.

The association's own survey of 1400 member businesses in March found that Auckland electricians charged the most - from $36.88 an hour for someone with a year's experience to $39.25 for someone working in the industry for eight years or more.

Mr Barbara said Palmerston North electricians charged the least, from $30 an hour to $34.33, because of a low workload.

Master Painters spokesman Don Fraser said Wellington's low average rate for painters might be due to one-man operators undercutting the market. But he could see no reason for the big jump in price from Wellington to Palmerston North.