Interest in home improvements continues to rise

During the pandemic, most people have been spending more time in their homes. This has led to an increase in home improvements being carried out and reports of people being less satisfied with their houses than they were beforehand. 

Many home improvements companies, including Lowe’s and The Home Depot in the US, as well as others elsewhere, have seen an impressive boost in sales in recent months. And, additionally, a lot of independent contractors have been busier than usual. 

There has also been a spike in home sales over the summer months, with many homeowners relocating to more affordable areas to try and buy a more spacious property. 

Furthermore, a study carried out by Sears Home Services has found that a substantial number of people have become dissatisfied with their property’s size and decor. 

The most common improvements

The study found that, since the beginning of the pandemic, the most common home improvements have been turning a room into a home office or into a gym. Others include creating a bigger kitchen, or setting up a gaming space or reading room. 

“With much of the world spending a highly unusual amount of time at home, we’re finding the things we want to improve but also benefiting more from those improvements,” the authors point out. “We may want to consider that we’re in this new lifestyle for the long haul, and it’s time to make the most of it.”

Even those not making drastic changes have reported making small improvements, like painting a room or decluttering. This can often add value to properties, although it’s important for consumers to be safe when doing DIY projects at home. 

What’s driving the trend?

With so many consumers stuck at home, either alone or with their families, it’s understandable that they would start to notice flaws in their accommodation. Without being able to visit other venues or socialize with others, a lot of people are more likely to focus on this. 

The study also found that the size of homes and personal circumstances influenced the trend for home improvements. For example, 50% of people in one bedroom homes reported being less satisfied, whilst only 37% of those with four bedrooms felt this way. 

In addition to this, parents with children in the home were more likely to be less satisfied, with 47% of households with children feeling that way compared to 37% of those without kids. 

The authors noted, “There’s a sense of feeling ‘trapped’ when it’s required to remain inside; we’re missing the venues we used to frequent and perhaps noticing additional flaws of the home while spending more time there.”