Renovating
What We've Learnt From the Houzz and Home Survey
The results are in and we discovered a lot about Australian homeowners, here are some of the highlights...
With more than 13,000 Australian respondents to our survey, we found out a lot about how us Aussies think about renovating, building and decorating their homes. Whether we’re looking at our spending habits or which rooms of the house we’re choosing to make over, one thing we can easily conclude is that Australians are as active as ever in our quest for turning our houses into homes. Some other revelations may surprise you though. For instance, can you guess which state is home to the most active renovators in Australia?
Living rooms are the most popular makeover project
That’s right, it’s not the kitchen or bathroom that homeowners are opting to renovate or decorate – it’s the living room! Results found that the majority of Houzzers are choosing to renovate and decorate their living rooms over any other room in the house by a long shot.
That’s right, it’s not the kitchen or bathroom that homeowners are opting to renovate or decorate – it’s the living room! Results found that the majority of Houzzers are choosing to renovate and decorate their living rooms over any other room in the house by a long shot.
We like to save!
What may be surprising is that 87% of homeowners surveyed are paying for renovations with personal savings. However, for financing custom builds, the majority are taking out personal loans.
What may be surprising is that 87% of homeowners surveyed are paying for renovations with personal savings. However, for financing custom builds, the majority are taking out personal loans.
Which pros are homeowners hiring?
Home builders are the most popular professionals hired for custom-built homes, with 63% of homeowners surveyed opting for their services. When it comes to specialists, electricians are being hired the most.
Home builders are the most popular professionals hired for custom-built homes, with 63% of homeowners surveyed opting for their services. When it comes to specialists, electricians are being hired the most.
Tasmanians are the most active renovators
Tasmanians are very active renovators, both indoors and outdoors. 68% are renovating interiors, which is the highest of any state, while those in the Northern Territory are renovating interiors the least.
Tasmanians are very active renovators, both indoors and outdoors. 68% are renovating interiors, which is the highest of any state, while those in the Northern Territory are renovating interiors the least.
It’s all about the aesthetic
It can feel disheartening to spend wads of cash on things when we can’t actually see the results, and that seems to be the general consensus among Australian homeowners. The majority of us are choosing to renovate our home’s aesthetics rather than necessities.
For example, we’re nearly twice as likely to renovate or extend our kitchen than upgrade our roofing. Homeowners are also more likely to buy paint – interior or exterior – over any other decor product in the next six months.
It can feel disheartening to spend wads of cash on things when we can’t actually see the results, and that seems to be the general consensus among Australian homeowners. The majority of us are choosing to renovate our home’s aesthetics rather than necessities.
For example, we’re nearly twice as likely to renovate or extend our kitchen than upgrade our roofing. Homeowners are also more likely to buy paint – interior or exterior – over any other decor product in the next six months.
We need time to plan
We’re all different when it comes to planning – some of the lucky renovators among us know exactly what we want, while others need to find inspiration and have lengthy consults with professionals before deciding on a solid design.
For kitchen renovations, millennials take the shortest amount of time to plan their new kitchens, while older boomers take the longest, with 66% spending longer than six months.
We’re all different when it comes to planning – some of the lucky renovators among us know exactly what we want, while others need to find inspiration and have lengthy consults with professionals before deciding on a solid design.
For kitchen renovations, millennials take the shortest amount of time to plan their new kitchens, while older boomers take the longest, with 66% spending longer than six months.
How much does a new kitchen or bathroom cost?
The average cost for a small kitchen renovation is $18,400 and $25,200 for larger kitchen. If you’re tossing up between a kitchen of bathroom renovation and money is the deciding factor, it may be more economical to opt for a bathroom makeover. The average cost of a small bathroom is $3,100, while a larger space is $15,000.
The average cost for a small kitchen renovation is $18,400 and $25,200 for larger kitchen. If you’re tossing up between a kitchen of bathroom renovation and money is the deciding factor, it may be more economical to opt for a bathroom makeover. The average cost of a small bathroom is $3,100, while a larger space is $15,000.
Single-storey homes are our go-to
Do you feel as though single-storey houses are dominating your neighbourhood? It may be because Australian homeowners are opting to build single-storey homes, as opposed to the majority of US and UK homeowners who are building upwards with two-storey houses.
We also discovered that Aussie homeowners’ biggest challenge when building a custom home is to stay on budget, whereas those in the UK struggle the most with finding the right service provider.
Do you feel as though single-storey houses are dominating your neighbourhood? It may be because Australian homeowners are opting to build single-storey homes, as opposed to the majority of US and UK homeowners who are building upwards with two-storey houses.
We also discovered that Aussie homeowners’ biggest challenge when building a custom home is to stay on budget, whereas those in the UK struggle the most with finding the right service provider.
We plan to stay put
Most homeowners who are 60+ years old plan to stay in their current home and renovate it to accommodate ageing. This could mean avoiding the dreaded moving days altogether!
One in five seniors who are staying in place renovated their kitchen and/or bathroom. Of those who renovated their kitchen, 68% did so with ageing in mind. Change of layout and easy-to-open appliances were the most popular upgrades.
Most homeowners who are 60+ years old plan to stay in their current home and renovate it to accommodate ageing. This could mean avoiding the dreaded moving days altogether!
One in five seniors who are staying in place renovated their kitchen and/or bathroom. Of those who renovated their kitchen, 68% did so with ageing in mind. Change of layout and easy-to-open appliances were the most popular upgrades.
Looking to the future
Renovating and decorating are not slowing down any time soon. 54% of homeowners planned to start a renovation in 2015 and 47% planned to decorate, proving that the average Australian home is constantly evolving.
To see the rest of the Houzz and Home survey click here
TELL US
What is the most surprising fact your learned from this? Let us know in the Comments section.
Renovating and decorating are not slowing down any time soon. 54% of homeowners planned to start a renovation in 2015 and 47% planned to decorate, proving that the average Australian home is constantly evolving.
To see the rest of the Houzz and Home survey click here
TELL US
What is the most surprising fact your learned from this? Let us know in the Comments section.
Anyone who has renovated a property will tell you that it’s not for the faint-hearted. It’s not only about executing a plan, but also finding the time and motivation to get started.
The youngest age bracket of homeowners, those aged between 25-34, are renovating and decorating the most out of all of us. The majority of this group are doing so because they just bought a new home and want to customise it, whereas the older generation are doing it more because they finally have time.