Top Improvements Homeowners Make

You could say that Americans tend to be a little obsessed with self-improvement. (OK, maybe a lot.) So it’s no surprise that we’re also a little – OK, a lot – obsessed with improving our homes.

Our data shows that 72 percent of homeowners have plans to conduct at least one home improvement project in the next 12 months, according to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2017.

The report found that the typical U.S. homeowner can spend an additional $3,021* per year on home improvement projects – that’s on top of monthly mortgage payments and basic maintenance.

Here are the top projects homeowners plan to complete in the next 12 months.

Replacing or repairing the roof (9%)

Share with your clients: How to Choose and Keep a Long-Lasting Roof

Replacing/purchasing new appliances (14%)

Share with your clients: Your Guide to Buying Brand-New Kitchen Appliances

Replacing/purchasing new furnishings (14%)

Share with your clients: Pro Tips for Selecting Furniture With Timeless Style

Painting exterior of the home (15%)

Share with your clients: How to Paint the Exterior of Your Home (the Easy Way!)

Redecorating home and rooms (16%)

Share with your clients: Here’s a slew of home decorating articles

Kitchen improvements (20%)

Share with your clients: Pro Tips for Making the Most of Your Kitchen Remodeling Budget

Replacing/purchasing new carpet/flooring (21%)

Share with your clients: These Stylish Floors Will Make You Rethink Your Renovation Plans

Landscaping yard (21%)

Share with your clients: Landscaping Tips to Maximize Curb Appeal

Bathroom improvements (22%)

Share with your clients: What NOT to Do When Remodeling Bathrooms

Painting interior of home (25%)

Share with your clients: 5 Interior Painting Mistakes to Avoid

As your clients’ trusted home adviser, now is a great time to reach out to recent (and past) clients to find out if they plan to make any improvements over the next year.

Compile a list of people you’ve worked with – local landscapers, decorators, contractors, etc. – and send it their way. Your clients will appreciate the check-in, as well as the valuable vetted referrals.

These small gestures form the building blocks of trust that fuel the agent-client relationship for years to come.

*Source: Skylar Olsen, “Hiding in Plain Sight: Tallying the ‘Hidden’ Costs of Homeownership,” Zillow Research (July 31, 2017).