January 17, 2022

A new year means new resolutions, and at the top of the list for many will be making their home more functional. A survey conducted by Zillow Research and residential-data firm Realm finds that 72% of homeowners will consider at least one home improvement project in the coming year – perhaps not surprising, considering most people spent more time than ever in their homes during the past 22 months.

“Most homeowners say they plan to stay in their current house for at least the next three years. And while uncertainty, pandemic precautions and affordability concerns keep many people in place, most are willing to consider improving their current home,” said Manny Garcia, a population scientist at Zillow.

The survey indicates that bathroom remodels will be the most popular project to tackle in 2022, with more than half of the respondents saying they would consider a bathroom renovation in the coming year.

The investment can pay off in time, as homebuyers are willing to pay a premium for spa-inspired bathroom features such as curbless showers (3.6% price premium), heated floors (3.2%) and freestanding bathtubs (2.6%).

Kitchen remodels are also widely popular, with the study showing 46% of homeowners would consider undertaking that project in 2022.

While kitchen and bathroom renovations are top improvement projects identified in the survey, homeowners have other interests that go beyond these rooms. Among these are landscaping work (97%), ground-floor additions (51%), deck (34%), exterior and interior painting (both at 17%) and building a swimming pool (11%).

Creating more livable space is a popular objective for many homeowners. Projects that are highest on their wish lists for 2022 include adding or improving an office space (31%), finishing a basement or attic (23%) and adding an accessory dwelling unit or guest house (21%).