Spring is in the air, and that means that home improvements are on the minds of many. DIY and renovations have seen an increase in popularity in recent years. New figures released on the Home Renovation Incentive Scheme show that since it launched in 2013, more than 107,000 homeowners have carried out renovations. For more information on the Home Renovation Incentive Scheme click here. A total of €1.7 billion has been spent on home upgrades – an average of €16,187 per project.
A 2017 survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) also found that a significant two thirds of adults had carried out home improvements since 2014. One quarter estimated that they spend between €1,000 and €3,000 when upgrading their home. 42% said they would choose to transform their home with new carpets and flooring. 38% said they would opt for new heating or insulation and 23% said they would fit new windows or doors.
Home Improvement without the Headache
While these upgrades work wonders for your home, they can be costly endeavours. The good news is that those surveyed by the ILCU had the right idea when it came to funding their home improvements. Of those who said they would need to borrow, six in ten said they would use their local credit union.
Commenting on this, Michael Boland, Business Development & Lending Manager, First Choice Credit Union said; “This is no surprise to us as we are seeing a large number of queries from people in our bond area asking about our home improvement loan. It’s easy to see why there is such interest in the product. We offer the loan at great value, with rates starting from 7.50% (7.76% APR), why not check out our loan calculator below to see for yourself. Not only that, but our loans are typically approved within 24 hours. We are also happy to offer our loans to brand new members, those members we see every day and of course those members who may have inactive accounts or whom we haven’t seen in a while.”
Michael continued, “There are a lot of other benefits with our home improvement loan. There are no administration fees or hidden charges and we can structure repayments in a way that suits every individual’s circumstances. Borrowers are also free to repay the loan early, should they wish, without any penalties. So, we would encourage anyone planning on doing some springtime DIY to contact us. You can call to the loan desk at our Castlebar, Balla, Ballyhaunis or Achill branches, or apply for a loan online at www.firstchoicecreditunion.ie.”.