Bord Gáis Energy research marks roll out of localheroes.ie in Dublin

Almost a third of Dublin residents have experienced a DIY disaster!

New Bord Gáis Energy research marks roll out of localheroes.ie in Dublin 

• 3 in 10 Dubliners have experienced a DIY disaster 
• 1 in 10 rate their DIY skills as quite bad, yet 92% complete DIY jobs themselves
• Three quarters (78%) admit that it takes them more time to do a DIY job than a professional 
•  Almost a half (48%) admit that the time taken to complete a job has scuppered other plans
• Painting a room (29%) and assembling flat pack furniture (28%) are the most common DIY jobs that Dubliners do themselves 
• 73% have found it difficult to find a tradesman with the right DIY skills in their area

They say that time is money and it seems that so is DIY. According to a new research study of 1,000 Irish adults by Bord Gáis Energy*, three quarters of Dubliners (78%) say that it takes them more time to do a DIY job than a professional and 48% of those admit that the time it took ruined other plans that they had.

The research was carried out to highlight localheroes.ie, an innovation by Bord Gáis Energy that quickly and easily connects you with trusted local tradespeople. For any Dublin resident seeking a trusted plumber, electrician, drainage or oil heating engineer, a Local Hero is just a few clicks away. Simply choose the trade you need along with your location and localheroes.ie matches you with a qualified, trusted tradesperson in your area. The online service takes the hassle out of home repairs, plus all work comes with a 12-month guarantee backed by Bord Gáis Energy. 

Colin Bebbington, Retail Director at Bord Gáis Energy said: ‘For many of us, it can be more tempting to avoid another household bill by attempting a DIY job ourselves. But the research findings show that DIY disasters are a common occurrence, and not only that but that 73% of Dubliners have found it difficult to find a tradesman with the right DIY skills in their area.

With this in mind, Bord Gáis Energy is delighted to offer localheroes.ie, an on-demand service that will make it easier for Dubliners to find a trusted local tradesperson than ever before. Each job also comes with a 12-month guarantee backed by Bord Gáis Energy, meaning that if any customer isn’t satisfied with the job, the Local Hero will come back to fix it for free.’ 

While almost all (92%) of those polled prefer to complete a DIY job rather than hire a professional, the research revealed that for a third of those Dubliners, DIY disaster has struck on more than one occasion. The findings from the Bord Gáis Energy research reveal that it’s important to plan for home repairs or renovations from the outset.

Don’t blow a fuse….

According to the study, at least 1 in 10 (11%) would rate their DIY skills as quite bad. Coming top of the most common DIY jobs list is changing a lightbulb (29%) followed closely by painting a room (28%) and assembling flat pack furniture (28%). 

…or the budget!

When DIY disaster strikes, the money needed to rectify the damage can cause a significant tug on the purse strings. Over three quarters (76%) spent at least €250 to fix a disaster and a further fifth (17%) spent between €250-€500 fixing the repairs. 

Holding out for a Local Hero

For the 76% of Dubliners planning home renovations or improvements over the next twelve months, 47% of those have identified the bedroom as the area of the house that has room for improvement.

Regarding who will complete the home improvements, while 41% intend to hire a professional, 39% intend to do it themselves and a fifth are not sure yet. From experience, 73% have found it difficult to find a tradesman with the skills for the DIY job yet a whopping 80% would be more inclined to hire a professional for home repairs or improvements if they knew one was available in their area. 

Don’t be a hero, get one in!

Those in need of a Local Hero do not have to be a Bord Gáis Energy customer to avail of the service. All tradespeople are vetted by the localheroes.ie team before they are registered as a Local Hero, giving you complete peace of mind.

Customers can accept or reject all quotes easily and securely online and a free cancellation is available on all bookings. Each job also comes with a 12-month guarantee and all listed localheroe.ie tradespeople are insured. The service is available in Dublin and surrounding counties and will be rolled out nationwide soon.  

Localheroes.ie is always on the lookout for new tradespeople to join the service so if you are a plumber, electrician, drainage or oil heating engineer and think you have the tools it takes to become a Local Hero you can get in contact via www.localheroes.ie/become-a-hero.

For more information visit www.localheroes.ie.

ENDS

*refers to research conducted on 1,000 Irish adults in January 2019.

For further information, please contact:

Naomi Steen, Bord Gáis Energy – nsteen@bordgais.ie/0867015226

Greta Murphy, Teneo - greta.murphy@teneo.com/01 634 5207

Saoirse Whelan, Teneo - saoirse.whelan@teneo.com/ 087 9543089

About Local Heroes

Local Heroes is a Centrica innovation 

All Local Heroes have been checked using robust procedures and for added peace of mind listed tradespeople are insured, with any completed work guaranteed by Bord Gáis Energy for 12 months. 

For more information please visit http://www.localheroes.ie 

About Bord Gáis Energy

Bord Gáis Energy is an energy and services supplier in the Republic of Ireland. The company has been in operation since 1976 and currently supplies energy and services to over 730,000 business and residential customers. In 2014, Bord Gáis Energy became part of the global Centrica plc Group.