DIY demand will peak to unprecedented levels over the October half-term, according to Europe’s largest building services and DIY marketplace. HSS ProService Marketplace expects the October school holiday period to be one of the busiest home improvement times of the year, with the sharpest concentration of home improvement activity since the spring.
Why homeowners are investing in improvements
It is the last full week many people will have off before the winter weather sets in. With the average cost of moving in England now £17,831 and the ONS recording annual house price growth slowing to 2.% in the year to June 2026, investing in the home you already own has become an attractive option for a growing number of households.
The Met Office says the UK may experience cold-weather extremes this year, so draught proofing and loft insulation, sealing doors and windows, clearing gutters, and treating damp are expected to be top priorities.
Shift in the type of jobs
Matt Denton, Head of Ecommerce at HSS ProService Marketplace, said: “We are anticipating one of the busiest weeks of our year. When moving looks expensive and unappealing because of market conditions, people spend on the house they are in, making structural and comfort-driven improvements.”
“The half term is the window where they finally get to do it. What we are anticipating is a shift in the type of job rather than simply more of them. This is not decorating to sell. It is people making the home work better for the long term, and that changes what they hire.”
Advice for planning ahead
He added: “The other thing we expect to see is earlier planning. A five-day job loses a day if the Monday is spent driving round buying materials. We are advising customers to book equipment and order materials together, for delivery before the week starts, because the popular lines go quickly once the week is under way.”
