PALO ALTO, CA — The age of a home has a significant impact on the types of remodeling projects that homeowners prioritize, according to findings from a major research study conducted by Houzz, the Palo Alto, CA-based online source for remodeling and related projects.
According to Houzz, the company’s research reveals “common themes among renovating homeowners (that) provide guidance on the types of projects that may be anticipated based on the age of each home.”
“One of the driving factors for home renovation and design in the U.S. is our limited and aging housing stock,” said Marine Sargsyan, staff economist for Houzz, which analyzed the renovation activity of more than 70,000 respondents.
“With interest rates and mortgage rates on the rise, many homeowners are choosing to stay in their homes and pursue renovations that tailor their space to their current needs (while) others may move to fixer uppers, which typically have a lower cost threshold for entering homeownership,” Sargsyan observed.
According to Houzz, homeowners with houses built between 1961 and 1980, and between 1981 and 2000, invest the most in renovations, with each group spending a median level of $20,000, 11% above the national median of $18,000. Owners of homes built in 1960 or earlier spend the same amount as the national median, while owners of homes built after 2000 spend the least on upgrades.
Kitchens and bathrooms are the most commonly renovated spaces, followed by living or family rooms and bedrooms, the company noted.
Homeowners of homes built in 1960 or earlier tend to focus on maintenance-related home system upgrades, including plumbing (35%), electrical (33%) and heating (24%), Houzz said, adding that homes from this era are most likely to receive exterior upgrades compared with those built between 1961 and 1980, between 1981 and 2000, and in 2000 or later. Topping the list of exterior projects among homes built in 1960 or earlier are roofing (26%), windows or skylights (25%), gutters or downspouts (23%), paint (23%) and doors (23%).
Homeowners of dwellings built between 1961 and 1980 also focus on home system upgrades, such as plumbing (32%), electrical (30%) and home automation (25%).
Owners of homes built between 1981 and 2000 focus almost equally on home projects such as plumbing (26%), home automation (25%), security (22%), cooling (22%) and electrical (22%).
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, cooling and electrical (14%), Houzz said, adding that homeowners in this category are most likely to pursue outdoor projects compared with owners of older homes. ▪