Figures released this week showed the average cost of hiring a renovation services in NSW had risen 0.8 per cent to $60.25 and in Victoria it had dropped 2.2 per cent to $57.28.

The trend was reversed when it came to electricians.

Tumbarumba’s Dean Young is one of the lucky electricians to work for a big company in Consolidated Power Projects and has a 12-month contract at Albury’s substation.

Most of his work involved travel around NSW, where the average electrician cost was $68.45, but there was always competition for Victorian contracts where the average cost was $69.66 and rising.

“You pretty much get an extra 30 per cent when you work in Victoria,” he said.

August is Tradies National Health Month and Mr Young knows the dangers of the job, working on a high-voltage power site.

But it was the football field where he hurt himself and is on a six-week recovery course from a knee injury.

“It hurts a bit standing up … I just need a lot of recovery and rest,” Mr Young said.

“You just need to be a bit more careful.”

Tradies National Health Month was launched by the Australian Physiotherapy Association and although he has been out on light duties at work, Mr Young has been happy to take medical advice to ensure he can get back to full fitness for his job.

That has involved gym sessions and lots of stretches each day.

Despite costs of NSW and Victorian renovation works rising, figures in both states remained below the national average.

Border-based Master Builders Association NSW president Paul Maginnity said he was not surprised to see the price of renovation works rising on the back on higher house prices.

“It’s becoming hard for first home owners because of the prices homes have reached, it’s much easier to pick up an old one and renovate,” he said.

“It’s been a fairly steady increase.”

Mr Maginnity said Border residents were still keen to invest.

“It will be intersting to see what the interest rate cut will do,” he said.