Melbourne builder reveals $100k tradie quote halved as work slows

Melbourne tradies are competing harder for work as new HIA figures reveal labour prices have fallen 3.1 per cent across the city in a year. A Melbourne builder has negotiated a $100,000 subcontractor quote down to $50,000 as construction labour prices fall across the city. New Housing Industry Association figures show trade charges fell 3.1 per cent across Melbourne in the year to September, while regional Victoria recorded an 18.1 per cent surge. The HIA’s September quarter Trades Report also reveals a sharp reversal in skilled worker availability, with Melbourne approaching equilibrium as regional shortages worsen. RELATED: ‘Huge risk’: Wild $9m offer for unfinished Brighton homes $5bn homes gone: Foreign buyers flood Aus Melb home’s $1m garden rivals original price Melbourne’s trades availability index improved from -0.45 in June to -0.06 in September, while regional Victoria deteriorated from -0.12 to -0.54. Negative readings indicate a shortage of skilled workers. Nationally, trade prices rose 6.6 per cent in the year to September, their fastest increase in four years. New-home sales fell 17.5 per cent between the June and September quarters, but the industry’s existing constr...