Findings from a survey of 67,554 users, including 33,711 renovating U.S. homeowners on Houzz about their home renovations in 2021 segmented by home age
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Homes Built in 1960 or Earlier: Homes built in 1960 or earlier tend to be smaller than those built during other eras; more than half (51%) of renovated homes built during this time period measure less than 2,000 square feet. Larger homes potentially have grown from their original size, as 1 in 10 owners (10%) increased the footprint with an addition in 2021 alone. Homeowners in this group focus on maintenance-related home system upgrades, including plumbing (35%), electrical (33%) and heating (24%); efficiency standards and technology advancements might play a role in this. For example, many everyday technologies, such as personal computers, were invented after the 1960s, which has led to the need for more electrical outlets. Likely due to the technical nature of these projects, 2 in 5 homeowners (43%) rely on electricians, while more than one-third hire plumbers and air conditioning or heating professionals (37% and 33%, respectively).Homes Built Between 1961 and 1980: Interior spaces are the most popular projects across home age, and nearly three-quarters of owners (73%) of homes built between 1961 and 1980 prioritize these rooms. Following national activity trends, kitchens (29%) and bathrooms (28%) are the most commonly renovated spaces, followed by living or family rooms (23%) and bedrooms (19%).
These homeowners also focus on home system upgrades, such as plumbing (32%), electrical (30%) and home automation (25%). The latter is unsurprising, as home automation increased in popularity in the early 2000s, after these homes were built. Electricians and plumbers are the two most common home pros hired to help with projects (41% and 37% respectively).Homes Built Between 1981 and 2000: Owners in this category focus almost equally on various home projects, such as plumbing (26%), home automation (25%), security (22%), cooling (22%) and electrical (22%). Similar to home automation, security systems began increasing in popularity in the early 2000s due to the development of new wireless features. Homeowners in this group are the most likely to hire professionals to assist with their projects (92% versus 89% of homeowners in each of the other three categories). Electricians, plumbers, and air conditioning or heating professionals are the pros hired most often among this group (39%, 36% and 36%, respectively).Homes Built in 2001 or Later: With newer homes, owners focus on luxury-type projects, such as home automation (22%) and security (21%), as there is less need for maintenance on systems such as plumbing (16%), cooling (16%) and electrical (14%). That said, electricians, plumbers and air conditioning or heating professionals are still the most common professionals hired to assist with projects (37%, 32% and 30%, respectively).
Homeowners in this category are most likely to pursue outdoor projects (59%)compared with owners of homes built before 1961 (55%), between 1961 and 1980 (53%), and between 1981 and 2000 (51%). Among outdoor upgrades, the top projects for these homeowners include lighting (25%), security (19%) and irrigation (17%).DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT
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Homes Built in 1960 or Earlier: Homes built in 1960 or earlier tend to be smaller than those built during other eras; more than half (51%) of renovated homes built during this time period measure less than 2,000 square feet. Larger homes potentially have grown from their original size, as 1 in 10 owners (10%) increased the footprint with an addition in 2021 alone.
Homeowners in this group focus on maintenance-related home system upgrades, including plumbing (35%), electrical (33%) and heating (24%); efficiency standards and technology advancements might play a role in this. For example, many everyday technologies, such as personal computers, were invented after the 1960s, which has led to the need for more electrical outlets. Likely due to the technical nature of these projects, 2 in 5 homeowners (43%) rely on electricians, while more than one-third hire plumbers and air conditioning or heating professionals (37% and 33%, respectively).
Homes Built Between 1961 and 1980: Interior spaces are the most popular projects across home age, and nearly three-quarters of owners (73%) of homes built between 1961 and 1980 prioritize these rooms. Following national activity trends, kitchens (29%) and bathrooms (28%) are the most commonly renovated spaces, followed by living or family rooms (23%) and bedrooms (19%).
These homeowners also focus on home system upgrades, such as plumbing (32%), electrical (30%) and home automation (25%). The latter is unsurprising, as home automation increased in popularity in the early 2000s, after these homes were built. Electricians and plumbers are the two most common home pros hired to help with projects (41% and 37% respectively).
Homes Built Between 1981 and 2000: Owners in this category focus almost equally on various home projects, such as plumbing (26%), home automation (25%), security (22%), cooling (22%) and electrical (22%). Similar to home automation, security systems began increasing in popularity in the early 2000s due to the development of new wireless features. Homeowners in this group are the most likely to hire professionals to assist with their projects (92% versus 89% of homeowners in each of the other three categories). Electricians, plumbers, and air conditioning or heating professionals are the pros hired most often among this group (39%, 36% and 36%, respectively).
Homes Built in 2001 or Later: With newer homes, owners focus on luxury-type projects, such as home automation (22%) and security (21%), as there is less need for maintenance on systems such as plumbing (16%), cooling (16%) and electrical (14%). That said, electricians, plumbers and air conditioning or heating professionals are still the most common professionals hired to assist with projects (37%, 32% and 30%, respectively).
Homeowners in this category are most likely to pursue outdoor projects (59%)compared with owners of homes built before 1961 (55%), between 1961 and 1980 (53%), and between 1981 and 2000 (51%). Among outdoor upgrades, the top projects for these homeowners include lighting (25%), security (19%) and irrigation (17%).
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