Dec 2023: Ben

The most recent update as far as pricings are concerned, The market continues to settle from the Covid Era but slowly. Pricing are predicted to drop further in the first quarter of 2024.

October 2022: Ben

The most recent update as of October 2022, prices are dropping a bit sooner than last year. we have already seen most of the log cabins drop by at least 10% this year already,

The timber market has for the most part settled and recovered from the troubles of the last two years

Oct 2021: Ben

This blog was made some time ago now and a lot has happened since 2019, so.. Is this still relevant and has anything changed with the effects of Covid and the global timber shortage.

For the better part this is all still very current. Although with the welcome reopening of everything fun in the last few months things have slowed down a little earlier than normal. With people taking that well needed staycation instead.

However with that said, keep an eye on the market as we get into those 3 golden months as things should start dropping,

Nov 2019:  Richard,

It always amazes me how quiet everything suddenly goes in this industry once the leaves start dropping and Autumn is here. It gets worse when the clocks go back. For me it’s time to put my feet up a bit, grab a quick holiday and some time with the family.

I do think though us humans are funny creatures. As soon as it gets a bit murky we’re not interested in anything outside, especially the garden. But, as soon as it gets light and sunny again we’re away.

You might be interested in this graph of how busy we have been.

November, December and January are the best times to buy your log cabin

The graph shows our busiest period over a 12 months. This is the same for every company I’ve been involved within the garden industry.

Sales start in January as people look forward to the Spring. It then builds to the crescendo of March and April. Drops steadily down until the summer holidays. Following some renewed interest as the weather stays nice. Then, strangely September and October we sell a lot of bigger buildings. In a previous job we’d sell a lot of garages.

Then comes the clock change. The weather gets rubbish and bam, that’s that for a few months and I get to relax and chip off somewhere hot.

But we still have a nice trickle through of customers and these are perhaps the clever, canny customers. They waited and are planning for the Spring next year, perhaps they know how the garden industry works?

Simply put, if you want anything major for your garden late Autumn and early Winter is the time to buy as the prices will be the lowest possible!

I found an interesting article on a recent search which was as a result of a survey on the best time of year to buy various items from computers to gym membership. Strangely they didn’t survey the garden industry which is a shame as it’s worth just over £5 Billion a year in the UK, we do love our gardens!

If they had surveyed the garden sector they would have found that the best time to buy for your garden is November, December and January.

Perhaps you wouldn’t buy a fence or a planter, or even garden furniture. But these months are the time to buy a major expense such as finally getting to buying that garden shed, or even your dream summerhouse.

This three month slot is the best time to buy a log cabin, gazebo or any major expense because:

• Lowest possible prices
• Retailers will be wanting to remove stock to make way for the new season.
• Timber price and product prices will start to rise the middle of January early February.
• Hauliers will be re-negotiating costs which will trigger late January early February.
• Retailers will need to maintain a cash flow.
• The very best service is often given in the quiet months as staff are a lot less busy.
• Prices will be at their lowest to maintain and encourage sales, lots of deals will be on offer.

We’re the same as everyone else, we drop a lot of our prices for Log Cabins, Gazebos, Verandas etc to try to keep the sales coming. We have some crazy, crazy bargains during those three months. We practically make nothing on the products but it keeps things moving.

Weather Window and too cold

Of course some customers will want to wait until the weather is better, until it’s warmer. Granted laying a base can take longer when it’s wetter and churn up your garden a bit but if you can manage it and get your log cabin up it will be worth it plus you’ll be ready for next spring and saved a ton of cash!

I always tell customers that the only thing that is affected by rubbish weather is the fitter and never the building!

The joy of a log cabin install in the wet and cold. You too could be enjoying yourself this much if you bought your cabin in the late Autumn / early winter 🙂