Citizens of Arad renovate their apartments on credit

Most home improvement stores try to boost their sales by offering up to 30% discount, free shipping for orders of more than 500 lei and the option to pay in monthly installments. As summer is usually the season when most people perform home improvement works, operators of DYI stores are willing to try anything to increase their sales.

Sales of floor tiles, sandstone and wooden floors increased these past few months, especially as stores now allow these items to be bought on credit as well. Fixed payments and low interest rates cause inhabitants of Arad to rethink their home renovation plans, by buying their building materials on credit. Mircea Grec, of interior decoration company "Art New", said: "The lending terms are quite attractive. People lack the money to pay cash, so their only alternative is to buy their materials on credit".

Officials of DYI stores say that, these past few weeks, sales of ceramic tiles, wooden floors and gardening tools have increased, because inhabitants of Arad are increasingly resorting to loans. Customers can find out which financing options are available to them, and sign credit contracts in-store. All customers have to do is provide proof of employment and they can take their products home in a few hours.

The crisis has caused prices to decrease accordingly. Prices for a box of tiles or sandstone range from 25 to 60 lei. Prices per sack of glue can cost from 12 to 20 lei. Prices for laminated wood panels start at 30 lei/sqm, and prices for PVC plinths, interior corner elements, joints, and floor foil cost 15 to 50 lei for a full set.