Insights: How Have Renovators Reacted to Covid-19?

A survey of the challenges faced by renovators during Covid-19 reveals demand and activity remains strong

In positive news for the residential design and construction industry, a recent Houzz survey of homeowners reveals that the first wave of Covid-19 lockdowns (from March 2020) didn’t stop renovations going ahead, with minimal disruptions and changes of plan. In fact, enforced time at home is likely to lead to an upswing of home-improvement projects.

The data in this story was sourced from an online survey fielded to Australian Houzz users between 29 June and 6 July.

The survey, of more of 2,200 Australian homeowners using Houzz, found that four in five homeowners (83 percent) – who were in the middle of a home renovation or design project when the coronavirus pandemic was declared on March 11, 2020 – were able to continue with their renovations. Less than one percent cancelled their ongoing project.

And of the 15 percent who put their project on hold, nearly half felt that their project was not urgent, and could resume at a later date (47 percent).
This was followed by a change of circumstance that limited their ability to pay for the project (37 percent).
Some other reasons why projects didn’t go ahead include a shortage of available materials, income and job insecurity, and concern about house prices dropping.

Where people continued with their projects, the trades most frequently hired included electricians, carpenters, plumbers and painters.

Enforced confinement at home led many respondents to plan upgrades of their homes for better enjoyment.

Three-quarters of respondents (75 percent) say they are thinking of changes that would help them develop their property. Leading the way in desirability are improvements to the outdoors, kitchens and bathrooms (30 percent, 26 percent and 24 percent, respectively).

During Covid-19, respondents got busy: decluttering and organising (56 percent), and cleaning and tidying up (51 percent) were all popular activities. Surveyed homeowners also reported doing more cooking and baking (47 percent) and, of course, working from home (26 percent).

The survey also uncovered an increasing appetite for qualified professionals.

More than four out of five homeowners with ongoing home-improvement projects are working with professionals (86 percent) with many citing the ease of online tools for shopping, invoicing and payments, remote communication and contract approvals as useful ways they are able to move forward with their projects.