The festive season in Australia is a time for barbies, beach trips, and backyard cricket—but for many tradies, it’s also one of the best times to pick up quality work. While some businesses wind down, plenty of homeowners use the holidays to tick off long-overdue projects. From bathroom renos to landscaping makeovers, the holiday season can be a goldmine for tradies who stay active online.
If you’re looking to secure more jobs and keep the cash flow steady through summer, timing is everything. Knowing when to be online for job leads can make all the difference between a quiet December and a fully booked calendar.
Here’s a closer look at the best times to be online, plus a few insider tips to help you make the most of the holiday job rush.
While many Aussies take time off in December and January, that downtime often turns into “get-things-done” time. Homeowners finally have the breathing room to tackle the repairs, upgrades, and renos they’ve been putting off all year.
Think about it—when you’ve got family coming over for Christmas lunch or you’re planning to host New Year’s Eve drinks, you suddenly notice that peeling paint, leaky tap, or broken deck step that’s been bugging you for months.
That’s where tradies come in. The holiday period sees a surge in demand for services like:
Plumbing and electrical repairs before guests arrive
Landscaping and decking projects for outdoor entertaining
Painting, plastering, and cleaning to freshen up the home
Air conditioning installs and servicing to beat the summer heat
General handyman jobs to fix all those little things before the new year
And while homeowners are booking tradies, you can bet they’re doing it online—often late at night, on weekends, or during their holiday downtime.
If you want to catch the wave of holiday job leads, it’s not just about being online—it’s about being online at the right times. Based on data and user trends from platforms like ServiceSeeking.com.au, here’s when Aussies are most active searching for tradies:
Many homeowners start their day with a coffee and a quick scroll through their phones. This is when they’re checking emails, browsing social media, and—if they’ve got home projects on their mind—posting jobs online.
✅ Tip: Make sure your ServiceSeeking profile is polished and ready. Respond quickly to new job alerts during these hours to get in ahead of competitors.
When people take a break at work or during holiday errands, they often use that time to compare quotes, read reviews, or shortlist tradies.
✅ Tip: Schedule follow-up messages or quote replies around lunchtime. A timely response can catch a homeowner right when they’re ready to decide.
Evenings are prime time. Families have finished dinner, the TV’s on, and people are planning their next day—or next home project. This is when many homeowners post jobs or reply to quotes they received earlier.
✅ Tip: Don’t switch off too early. Log into your ServiceSeeking account after dinner to check for fresh leads or follow up on quotes.
It might surprise you, but weekends—especially Saturdays—often see a big spike in activity. That’s when homeowners are actually looking at what needs fixing around the house.
✅ Tip: If you’re still checking leads only during weekday business hours, you could be missing out on some of the best opportunities.
Some parts of the holiday season are busier than others. Here’s how the timeline usually plays out:
From the first week of December, homeowners scramble to finish projects before Christmas. Painters, cleaners, landscapers, and electricians are in hot demand.
If you’re online and ready to quote during this time, you’ll likely see a surge in high-value jobs.
After Christmas Eve, things might slow for a few days—but don’t go fully offline. Some homeowners use their time off between Christmas and New Year to plan bigger renos for January. Being active online during this quieter week can help you line up work before everyone else gets back into gear.
By early to mid-January, activity picks up fast again. Many Aussies return from holidays feeling motivated to start fresh—and that includes home improvements. From kitchen facelifts to new fencing, January can be just as busy as pre-Christmas.
✅ Pro Tip: Start refreshing your quotes and reactivating your ads right after Boxing Day. It’s the perfect time to get ahead while others are still in holiday mode.
Timing matters—but so does visibility. Here are a few ways to make sure you’re at the top of the list when homeowners are searching:
Update your profile with recent photos, customer reviews, and a friendly description. Homeowners are more likely to choose tradies who look active and trustworthy.
On ServiceSeeking, speed is key. The faster you reply to a new lead, the better your chances of winning the job. Setting up push notifications or alerts can help you respond within minutes.
If you’re serious about maximising your visibility and lead volume, upgrading your plan is worth it. A premium ServiceSeeking plan gives you access to more job leads in your area—and lets you quote on higher-value projects.
Reviews are everything during the holidays, when homeowners are often hiring under time pressure. Keep communication clear, show up on time, and follow up politely for a review after each job.
While most people are relaxing this summer, smart tradies are seizing the moment. The holidays are full of opportunities—if you know when (and how) to be online.
Stay active during those key hours, keep your profile sharp, and don’t miss out on the surge of homeowners ready to spend on home improvements. Whether it’s a quick garden tidy-up or a full kitchen reno, someone’s looking for your skills right now.
And if you want to make sure you’re seeing the best job leads in your area, it might be time to level up your plan on ServiceSeeking.com.au. With more visibility, faster notifications, and better-quality leads, you can secure more work—without spending your holidays chasing jobs.
So go on—fire up your account, set your alerts, and make this holiday season your most profitable one yet.