Media reports have revealed hardware shops across America are enjoying a do it yourself (DIY) spending boom. So what have homeowners been buying to improve their properties during this pandemic?
New research commissioned by lighting company Leviton suggests 80% of homeowners have lifted a screwdriver, hammer or paintbrush in anger or boredom.
And they’ve no doubt been encouraged by reports that the property market across much of America is going from strength to strength currently despite the pandemic.
Some 2,000 respondents to the survey claimed they’d made an average of six repairs or improvements.
Some 45% said they’d not previously undertaken the upgrade because of lack of time – but with Covid making more of us spend time at home, suddenly the opportunity opened up.
I’m sure a few of them will be thinking of preparing to sell their home right now and climb the property ladder. As your local real estate agent, our market is performing strongly even with Covid and it’s a great time to consider your options and opportunities.
One word of caution: On DIY, some 42% of the respondents said they had injured themselves or someone had been hurt. For me, the lesson here is to use professional contractors where possible.
It’s also important to remember that not all remodeling will increase the value of your home or help sell the property. Rather than waste your money on projects of little value to a prospective buyer, please contact me for advice on what the market values right now. We’ll be able to discuss where best to invest your cash and your time.
In the meantime, here’s a list of the most popular upgrades revealed by the survey and a few other quirky findings.
- Kitchen updates – New countertops and cabinets were added by 65% of respondents.
- Lighting fixtures – New switches and outlets we updated by 61% of those surveyed. Some 65% said they still wanted to improve the lighting in their home, and 78% believe lighting affects the mood of a room. Energy-efficient LEDs were necessary for 80% of respondents.
- Bathroom – Fresh taps and fixtures were installed by 61%.
- DIY – Nearly 60% said they did the job themselves.
- Not happy – But an important warning – 36% said their project didn’t turn out as they’d planned!