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By Catherine Henderson
Advertising Executives are starting to wake up to the new
phenomenon that is spreading across the country; it is true,
women are now the main purchase decision makers in every household.
The purchase can be anything from a tin of baked beans, a
sofa, a family holiday or a new home!
These purchasing decisions are not taken lightly. Everyday,
whether it be meeting up with the NCT group, exchanging advice
at the playground or reading magazines like ABC, women are
undertaking research to ensure that the purchases made are
the best available within the family’s budget.
Historically, major household decisions have been spearheaded
by the male partner, leaving his other half to take care of
those with a lesser financial impact, such as grocery shopping.
Times have changed. It’s evident that even the most significant
household decisions (like under-taking major refurbishment)
are influenced and progressed by females. This shift in behaviour
has evolved due to the fact that women are no longer prepared
to endure the male trait of procrastination. Life is too short
and we need to progress to achieve our dreams.
Proof of this theory has been revealed by Sussex-based Project
Management Company, blue door living solutions whose business
is to take control of building renovations and refurbishments
for clients, saving them time, money and hassle. The company
has discovered that women make 90% of all initial enquiries,
often before prior consultation with their partner.
Enquiries tend to increase soon after Christmas following
a typical household scenario. Often a family purchases their
new home with the intention to re-decorate, re-configure rooms
or build an extension for that vital additional living space.
All these good intentions generally lapse once the family
has moved in and settled into their new routine.
During the Christmas break, families not only spend more than
average time together in their home, they also have an opportunity
to discuss plans for the future. Christmas festivities serve
to only highlight the inadequacies of their home, be it an
undersized kitchen, insufficient space for entertaining or
the need for a guest room. Reflecting on their original intentions,
the couple reiterate their initial plans to renovate their
home and commit to setting the wheels in motion in the New
Year.
And so ... once the holiday season has drawn to a close it
is apparent that men switch off their focus and carry on with
life as before, falling under the illusion that these new
plans will be magically undertaken! Women, now taking command
of the situation, are transform-ing talk into reality. Combining
a ‘can do’ attitude with some solid research they
are adopting a modern approach to resolving household issues
by contacting experts to get the job done.
A woman will always be the first to admit that neither partner
has specialist knowledge required to oversee building works.
Neither knows a router from a mastic gun. It’s easier
to understand a Greek menu than the jargon on a builder's
quotation! With both partners leading busy lives, neither
has time to track down and chase the numerous suppliers required
to undertake refurbishment.
By appointing a project management company, such as blue door
living solutions, both partners can relax, safe in the knowledge
that they can rely on professionals to carry out the entire
project. They will have just one point of contact, making
it easier for them to keep abreast of the works in progress
and the budget.
Managing Director, Rupert Maitland advises, “With both
partners busy, either with their jobs or running the family
home, it’s now crucial to contact experts. We’ve
noticed that most of our calls come from women who realise
that the simplest and most cost effective solution to creating
their dream family home is by appointing a project manager.”
“We can take control of planning, building regulations
and design economics as well as management of builders. With
our wide-ranging expertise we protect homeowners from the
traditional pitfalls of undertaking renovations such as chasing
up unreliable builders and pinning them down to a start date.
In the current market, work-hungry builders are hard to find,
they have a tendency to show great enthusiasm initially then
never get back to you, or send in a quotation that is well
over your budget.”
Once the design has been agreed, blue door will provide a
detailed budget for the project, giving Clients the most important
information before a builder is signed up. This, along with
a realistic building programme and proper building contract,
gives total peace of mind.
A clever woman knows that involving a third party helps to
keep their relationship in-tact.
A project manager removes the stress created when dealing
with all those involved in a building project, allowing the
couple to focus on the enjoyable aspects of refurbishment
such as colour selection or designing a kitchen. With clear,
easily explained budgeting presented by blue door, couples
take on the shared responsibility of accepting the quotations.
There are no opportunities for misinterpre-tations or grey
areas - so less scope for arguments!
Always shrewd with the family purchasing decisions, the woman
is allowed to feel a little smug with the decision to use
blue door. If their other half uses the excuse that a Project
Manager will be an additional cost, the ladies have a valid
fact up their sleeve; that the savings blue door has achieved
in professionally scrutinising and negotiating quotes have
more than paid for the project management fee itself. Obviously
to us women, the money we have saved surely means that we
can spend it on a special treat ... like a summer holiday
or a new spring wardrobe?
For more information or a
free consultation
contact Blue Door Living Solutions.
Tel: 01273 267925 or www.bluedoorliving.com
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