(BPT) With people across the country spending more time at home than ever before, home improvement projects are increasingly becoming top of mind for homeowners. Despite the financial difficulties brought on by the pandemic, 77% of homeowners say their home renovation budget for 2020 is the same or greater than last year, according to a survey by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).
Whether it’s finally having time to make their dream home improvements a reality or preparing their homes to sell, homeowners are optimistic about completing renovations this year. NAR’s survey found the top 3 home renovations that homeowners hope to complete within their budgets in 2020 are:
* A new bathroom (28%);
* A new kitchen (23%); and
* Fencing in their yards (21%).
“In an ever-changing world, homeownership provides sanctuary, safety and financial security,” said NAR President Vince Malta, broker at Malta & Co., Inc., in San Francisco, Calif. “As we celebrate Homeownership Month, we recognize that buying a home is one of the most rewarding transactions people will make in their lifetimes. Making your home your dream home through remodeling projects takes time and patience, but Realtors® and homeowners alike recognize the feelings of accomplishment, satisfaction and potentially higher home values that come with it.”
The survey also revealed homeowners are attuned to how the pandemic may influence prospective buyers’ preferences. A fenced-in yard, for example, the third most popular project for 2020, didn’t even make the top 10 Realtor®-recommended projects in NAR’s 2019 Remodeling Impact Report, which examined a variety of remodeling projects and their appeal, value and potential return on investment. A further 21% of homeowners expect new additions such as a home office, gym or other space will offer one of the greatest returns on investment – another project that Realtors® would not have recommended as a top priority based on 2019 data.
Still, some renovation priorities remain unchanged: Kitchen and bathroom upgrades and remodels were highly recommended by Realtors® in 2019, and continue to top most homeowners’ lists now.
Realtors® can help homeowners understand their local real estate markets as well as determine which home renovations improve quality of life and provide a greater return on investment during this ‘new normal’ of homeownership.
