Page 110 - enLIGHTenment Magazine - January 2017

2017 housing Trends

Millennials show a willingness to use a mix of do-it-
IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED IN THE yourself approaches plus seek out professional help.

NEXT THREE YEARS
They are the most willing to use a combined approach
for projects like minor kitchen remodeling (26 per-

cent) or to complete all the work in that improvement 0% 10 20 30
category themselves (49 percent).
Painted interior
Generation X owners enjoy doing light work such
of home
as interior decorating (79 percent), but tend to hire
professionals for large-footprint projects such as
New carpet/ ooring
kitchen overhauls (49 percent) and basement build-
outs (47 percent). Meanwhile Baby Boomers are

happy to tackle light DIY projects outdoors, such as Landscape yard

landscaping (69 percent) and curb appeal improve-
ments (75 percent). Indoors, they’re willing to replace Redecorate
home/rooms
appliances (52 percent) or manage bathroom up-
grade projects (63 percent).

Not surprisingly (due to age), members of the Silent Replace appliances

Generation are more inclined to hire professionals
and contractors for improvement projects.
Paint exterior of home
Millennials are the “handyman” generation and are
quick to DIY major projects rather than pay laborers.

In all, 69 percent of Millennials surveyed indicated Improve curb appeal

that when projects need to be done around the
home, they prefer to do them directly as opposed Minor bathroom
upgrade
to relying on professionals. Among the di erent gen-
erations, they show the highest willingness to tackle

appliance installation (65 percent), the installation of Minor kitchen upgrade

new carpet or ooring (34 percent), or update plumb-
ing (33 percent).
Bathroom overhaul
Since they are young and ambitious, many Millenni-
als feel con dent taking home improvement ma ers

into their own hands. Despite their inexperience, New roof/repair roof

3 out of 4 Millennials (74 percent) report that they
came in at or below their DIY project budget, which Updated or
repaired electrical
is about on par with other generations. Additionally, a
larger share of Millennials live in urban areas (33 per-

cent), where DIY may be the more a ordable option.
Kitchen overhaul

The typical homeowner has plans to do at least
three maintenance projects over the next three years,
Update plumbing
Millennials are
with common plans including painting (44 percent), the “handyman”
upgrading ooring (31 percent), and updating kitchens
Replace or repair generation and are quick
(26 percent). Ambitious Millennials and families are furnace/heater
to DIY major projects
the most likely to have ve or more projects in the
pipeline (both 27 percent), while members of the rather than
Finish Basement
Silent Generation are most likely to have none (23 pay laborers.
percent).
Modify existing
Becoming aware of the di erent ways various oor plan

demographics remodel and what they are seeking
in home buying will help a lighting showroom’s sales
No improvement plans
team be er serve customers of all ages who come
into their store seeking guidance.


108 enLIGHTenment Magazine | january 2017
www.enlightenmentmag.com