Home improvement gets a makeover

Posted by on Feb 11, 2013 in Remodeling Trends

Homeowners are being choosier about which projects they undertake

February 01, 2013|Kelli B. Grant

No longer content with new cabinet pulls or a fresh coat of paint, homeowners are beginning, again, to dabble in home remodeling projects.

Contractors say they’re getting more requests for upgraded kitchens and bathrooms, as well as home additions and major improvements that cut energy bills and reinforce structures against storms. It’s a significant shift from recent years, when homeowners were focused on only vital home repairs, “preserving the investment you had,” says Steve Melman, the director of economic services for the National Association of Home Builders. The NAHB’s forecast expects a 2.4% increase in remodeling spending this year among single-family-home owners. Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies has a rosier outlook. Residential spending on additions, remodels and other major home improvements for October 2012 through September 2013 is expected to tally $145.5 billion, up 19.6% year over year, according to a January report.

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