April 23, 2021

In a new survey and report from Bid-On-Equipment, 870 American homeowners were asked about the DIY home improvement projects they undertook during the pandemic . They analyzed trends in spending on home improvement projects over the last year and also asked if homeowners have any regrets in doing the project themselves.

DIY or Contractor?

The survey from Bid-On-Equipment found that 89% of Americans said that they made an improvement to their home during the pandemic. One in 10 Americans reported making an improvement to their home for the first time during the pandemic.

Surveyed respondents were asked if they made the home improvements themselves or if they hired a contractor to do it for them. The results were mixed: 58% reported doing the project themselves, and 27% said they hired a contractor to assist with their home improvement project; 15% said they did both.

DIY Regrets

The study found out that many Americans prefer the idea of DIY projects as opposed to hiring a professional contractor to assist with the home improvement project. While the idea of DIY home improvement is enticing for some, it can also lead to regrets for others. The survey found that 27% of American homeowners who did a DIY home improvement project this past year, already have regrets.

The top reasons for DIY regrets during the pandemic?

• 77% said the project took too long without the help of a professional.
• 57% reported that the project ended up costing too much from not planning ahead.
• 32% said they were disappointed with the finished results.
• 12% said the project ended up being too complicated and that they should have hired a professional.

The Most Common Home Improvement Projects During the Pandemic

The average spend by American homeowners on home improvement projects during the pandemic was $3,797. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed said their budget for home improvement projects fell between $100-$5,000. Obviously, the budget is impacted by the scope of the project.

The survey also found that kitchen renovations and bathroom renovations were the two most popular interior renovation projects for Americans during the pandemic. Listed below are the most common home improvement projects that took place during the pandemic:

1. Exterior (86%)
2. Bathrooms (45%)
3. Kitchen (43%)
4. Living room (38%)
5. Dining room (21%)
6. Master bedroom (20%)
7. Entryway (17%)
8. Garage (17%)
9. Basement (13%)
10. Bedrooms (11%)
11. Entire home renovation (4%)

Using the Google AdWords platform, Bid-On-Equipment analyzed search volume trends for more than 2,700 terms and keywords related to DIY home improvement from March 2020 to March 2021 across all 50 states. When it came to the interior home improvement projects that Americans have Googled the most during the pandemic, bathroom remodeling was the most popular. Sixteen states across the U.S. had bathroom-related projects as their top search during the pandemic.