Homeowners’ summer projects bode well for home centers

Seattle – Six-in-10 U.S. homeowners plan to make a home improvement or addition this summer, according to the Zillow Digs Summer Home Improvement Trend and Spending Survey. Zillow cites tight housing inventory and the fact that more than 25% of homeowners in the U.S. owe more on their mortgage than their property is worth as driving factors in the popularity of home-improvement projects.



Homeowners plan to spend a median of $1,200 on summer home-improvement projects. Sub-groups of homes with children as well as homeowners 54 years of age and younger plan to spend one-third more ($1,500) compared to homes without children and those 55 and older ($1,000). The survey also found that some of the most popular summer home-improvement projects are outdoor spaces (40%) and bathrooms (17%). Younger respondents and homes with children are significantly more likely to be planning three or more home improvements this summer.



"As we head into the long days of summer, we are seeing increased interest in outdoor spaces with very natural elements such as stone fireplaces, as well as bringing more light into bathrooms with clear glass on the walls and shower enclosures, said Cynthia Novak, trend expert at Zillow Digs.