As the length of time Americans have been confined to their homes has grown during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the appetite for home improvements has increased. The pandemic has shifted the way a home functions and has provided homeowners ample time to perform improvement tasks that may otherwise have been put off. According to survey data from Porch, three-quarters of U.S. homeowners carried out at least one home improvement project since the start of the pandemic and around 80% plan to complete at least one project in the next 12 months.
One in four homeowners who completed a renovation during the pandemic said “finally having the time” to complete a project was the top motivator for renovations, according to the survey. “Finally having the time” for a project outranked more typical drivers of home improvement, such as “adding value to a home” or “making a home feel more comfortable and cozy.” Millennials and Gen Zers were the most likely to have completed projects during the pandemic, while baby boomers were the least likely, according to Porch.
Exterior projects were the most common improvement projects, with three in five homeowners doing some work on a garden, patio, or the structure of their homes. Green landscaping was the most popular home project, with over a quarter of homeowners improving their gardens and one in five homeowners improving their lawns.
Porch found that 58% of homeowners completed an indoor renovation project, such as painting walls, adding new flooring, renovating bathrooms, upgrading kitchens, or adding new lights.
The survey found 34% of homeowners made improvements to make their home more environmentally friendly. Additionally, nearly one in five homeowners reported upgrading the technology of their home during the pandemic, either by installing security cameras, smart doorbells, or smart lighting.
Despite the tight economic downturn, Porch found American homeowners spent a median amount of $17,140 improving their homes since the pandemic began. The average homeowner reported completing five improvement projects since the beginning of the pandemic.
While most homeowners reported completing at least one renovation project, many suggested they aren’t finished with improvements to their home. Of the 78% of homeowners planning to complete at least one additional project in the next 12 months, two-thirds will be focusing on the interior, 63% plan to renovate the exterior of the home, and 54% plan to add home technology and smart appliances.
The Porch survey generated responses from 1,083 homeowners in the United States over the age of 18. The survey had a nationally representative sample and was carried out by Savanta from July 7-9. Porch defined Millennials and Gen Zers as individuals aged 18-39, Gen Xers as individuals aged 40-55, and baby boomers as individuals over the age of 55.
