The COVID-19 pandemic transformed nearly every aspect of the way we live, work and spend money in the Tennessee Valley.
If you’ve purchased interior paint for your home, installed new flooring or worked with a remodeler recently, you’re not alone. Homeowners have shifted their spending habits from entertainment and travel to home improvement projects, HomeAdvisor’s latest State of Home Spending survey reports.
HomeAdvisor conducts a survey every year of homeowners across the U.S. who have completed projects within the last 12 months. The survey revealed that homeowners spent an average of $13,138 on home-improvement projects in 2020, compared to $9,081 in 2019.
Rising costs for material and labor are contributing factors to the increase in spending. Increased homebuying also is a factor, primarily driven by millennials, the oldest of whom are now at or close to the median age of first-time homebuyers, the National Association of Home Builders reports.
Home maintenance projects such as cleaning and landscaping saw the biggest year-over-year increase, rising from $1,105 in 2019 to $3,192 in 2020. Contributing factors include people using their homes more, resulting in more wear and tear, and spending more time at home, making problems more noticeable.
Home improvement and home emergency spending rose $745 and $124, respectively, compared to 2019. The top home improvement projects included interior painting projects, bathroom remodels and new flooring installations.
Respondents to HomeAdvisor’s survey indicated that interior painting projects would remain the top project leading into 2021 – a departure from prior years, in which room remodels generally held the top spot.
The report shows “painting was one of the most popular projects across nearly all age groups because it is relatively affordable and offers a lot of visual value in terms of the look and feel of a room.”
The report also examined the way homeowners are using their homes in the wake of COVID-19. Seven in 10 respondents indicated that COVID-19 had increased their need for home cooking, 50% were working from home and 40% were incorporating more home entertaining.
If you’re ready to modernize your home and need some professional help, visit the Home Builder Association of Greater Chattanooga’s online directory at HBAGC.net.