Report shows homeowners find satisfaction in DIY projects

This week’s column was written by Lauri Rottmayer, association executive for the North Central Board of Realtors.

According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2019 Remodeling Impact Report, folks who are making changes to their homes love do-it-yourself projects. The report contrasts remodeling projects that homeowners undertook for the comfort of their homes’ human occupants with projects done for the benefit of their pets.

According to the report, more than half of the home-comfort projects undertaken by those polled were completed by hired professionals versus those done for pets, which tended to be DIY.

The top three interior home projects were bathroom renovations, kitchen upgrades and complete kitchen renovations. Except for the complete kitchen renovations, the projects were split down the middle between hiring a professional and doing the work oneself. About double the number of homeowners doing a complete kitchen renovation hired a professional.

The most popular DIY projects were renovating a closet (69 percent), refinishing hardwood floors (56 percent) and converting a basement to a living space (56 percent).

The top three exterior home projects for all renovators, both DIYers and those who hired a professional, were new roofing, new windows and vinyl siding.

The No. 1 reason people undertake a home improvement project is to increase the function and/or livability of the home. This reason is followed by increasing the home’s beauty and aesthetics and adding durable and long-lasting results, materials and appliances.

Projects designed to add personality to a house were twice as popular with the DIY crowd than with those hiring a professional.

The report measures the sense of accomplishment various projects bring to homeowners and gives a “Joy Score.” These Joy Scores range from 1 to 10, and the higher the number, the greater the homeowner’s joy with the finished project.

Interestingly, DIYers reported a higher Joy Score (9.9) than consumers who hired professionals to complete their projects (9.6).

Customizing a home to make it your own is one of the joys of homeownership.

Before taking on remodeling projects — especially when considering resale of the home — it’s good to speak with a Realtor who is familiar with the local market and knows which upgrades will bring the most value to your home.

“A Realtor can tell you some things you should do and not do when remodeling and what things will work best to improve the value of your house,” said Tim Walker, an executive broker for Peglar Real Estate Group in Mountain Home.

“A Realtor will take into consideration

factors that a homeowner might not know about the neighborhood and the use of the other homes in your area,” he said. “A Realtor can weigh these factors and advise you on what you need to do and what will help you, and what won’t help you get the most out of the sale of your home.”

House to House is distributed by the Arkansas Realtors Association. For more information about homeownership in Arkansas, visit www.ArkansasRealtors.com.