Happy New Year to our Euro family and friends! We have been super busy, productive, and happy this year, and I hope those words describe your lives, too. For us, the year was somewhat hectic and out of our control, but as we move forward, we are working to make our future manageable and better for all.
With the crazy housing market this past year, most of us decided to stay in place and upgrade our living spaces to meet our personal and family needs. In other words, we all decided to age- or nest-in-place with our families. This decision brought demands for residential home improvement products and services of epic proportions, leading to 12- to 16-month lead times for quality appliances and 20-weeks or more lead times on better quality cabinetry. Because of this, most of us were forced to become very patient and creative. We have managed stress and struggle throughout this year to overcome challenges we had never faced before in our 24-year history, and for the most part, we have been successful. We leave 2022 slightly bruised but hopeful for a better future.
The cost associated with home improvements increased considerably over the past year due to multiple factors: the war in Ukraine, increased costs of transportation, qualified labor shortages, and increased costs of raw materials for the housing industry. All of these factors gave rise to multiple price increases that nearly doubled the cost of products we use for home improvements. The shortage of qualified labor caused an increase in cost of labor and extended lead times across the board for all trades. What does this mean for you and your family moving forward? This may mean partnering with a trusted professional to guide you through the extensive research needed to select quality products that are built to last and provide access to a qualified labor force you can trust to help you make meaningful changes that are designed to extend the life of your home.
The past year gave us an opportunity to refine our processes at each step in the renovation and planning journey, which will benefit those whose projects are on our schedule this year and beyond. We remind ourselves that despite our best efforts, we will encounter unforeseen challenges on our journey to a better life. Remember, even this shall pass. Just breathe and move on. We promise to always keep an eye on the changes in our industry and how they affect you and the quality of your life in your forever home.
Even though Euro Design Build’s production schedule is pre-booked for the next 12 months, we will always work hard to make room to take care of you. We are currently designing projects for January 2024 and beyond.
If you have been thinking of improving an area in your home to reflect your family’s lifestyle, then make time to plan how you want your family to enjoy life over the next 20 years. There’s no better time than now. To quote Fulton J. Sheen, “Life is worth living,” or as I have re-written it to reflect my personal views, life is a special occasion worth enjoying to the fullest. Remember to make plans for enjoying life with the people you love.
Your health is your wealth.
Melinda Dzinic
