Do you have a home improvement project on your to-do list? You might have a deck to build or a leaky toilet to fix.
If so, you’re in good company. Searches for “home renovation” and “home improvement” reached their highest levels so far this year in June, according to Google Trends data.
kAm#6?@G2E:@?D 2?5 C6A2:CD 5@?’E 6I24E=J 4@>6 4962A]k^Am
kAm~? 2G6C286[ 9@>6 :>AC@G6>6?E AC@;64ED 4@DE 23@FE Se[a__ 6249[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^9@>6\@H?6CD9:A^DEF5:6D^DA6?5:?8\52E2\a_abnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_ea_b_U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm}6C5(2==6E’D 2?2=JD:Dk^2m @7 E96 >@DE C646?E p>6C:42? w@FD:?8 $FCG6J 7C@> E96 &]$] r6?DFD qFC62F]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F A=2? E@ H@C< @? J@FC 9@>6[ <?@H:?8 H92E E@ 6IA64E 42? 96=A J@F 2G@:5 4@DE=J >:DE2<6D] (6 2D<65 >6>36CD @7 }6C5(2==6E’D 65:E@C:2= E62> E@ D92C6 E96:C 6IA6C:6?46D 2?5 >@?6J\D2G:?8 :562D 7C@> E9:D DF>>6C’D AC@;64ED]k^Am
k9amq2D6>6?E C6>@56=k^9am
kAmkDEC@?8m}6C5ik^DEC@?8m $2C2 #2E9?6C[ D6?:@C HC:E6C^DA@<6DA6CD@?k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{@42E:@?ik^DEC@?8m #:49>@?5[ ':C8:?:2]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 AC@;64Eik^DEC@?8m (6VC6 7:?:D9:?8 @FC 32D6>6?E] xEVD D@>6E9:?8 H6 2=H2JD E9@F89E 23@FE 5@:?8[ 6DA64:2==J 27E6C G:D:E:?8 7C:6?5D H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^9@>6\@H?6CD9:A^9@>6\:>AC@G6>6?E^=62C?^4@DE\7:?:D9\32D6>6?EnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_ea_b_U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm7:?:D965 32D6>6?EDk^2m] %96J H6C6 DF49 FD67F= DA246D 7@C <:5D[ 6?E6CE2:?:?8 2?5 92?8:?8 @FE] xV> =@@<:?8 7@CH2C5 E@ >J 32D6>6?E =@@<:?8 =:<6 2 4@KJ 72>:=J C@@> :?DE625 @7 2 C2H[ :?5FDEC:2= DA246 92F?E65 3J 2 G6?867F= 89@DE]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|@?6J D2G:?8 DEC2E68Jik^DEC@?8m w2929292] xEVD D@ 6IA6?D:G6] {:<6 =2F8923=J 6IA6?D:G6] qFE H6VC6 @?=J 5@:?8 E9:D @?46[ D@ H6 H2?E E@ 5@ :E C:89E] |@?6J 92D ?@ >62?:?8 2?J>@C6] xEVD =:<6 D4@@A:?8 FA 2 92?57F= @7 D2?5 2?5 =6EE:?8 :E 7:=E6C @FE E9C@F89 J@FC 7:?86CD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$@>6E9:?8 DFCAC:D:?8ik^DEC@?8m (6 :?E6CG:6H65 4@?EC24E@CD 7@C >@?E9D] x 5:5?VE C62=:K6 9@H >2?J H@F=5 AC@>:D6 E@ 5C2H FA 2? 6DE:>2E6[ @?=J E@ 5:D2AA62C] ~C 9@H >2?J H@F=5 D6?5 FD 6DE:>2E6D E92E H6C6 >:DD:?8 >2;@C A2CED @7 E96 AC@;64E] x7 J@F 86E 2? 6DE:>2E6 E92E D66>D =@H[ 8@ E9C@F89 :E =:?6 3J =:?6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%:Aik^DEC@?8m %2<6 H92E6G6C J@F E9@F89E :E H2D 8@:?8 E@ 4@DE 2?5 255 2?@E96C S`_[___]k^Am
k9am}6H 365C@@>k^9am
kAmkDEC@?8m}6C5ik^DEC@?8m y62?6EE6 |2C8=6[ 9625 @7 4@?E6?Ek^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{@42E:@?ik^DEC@?8m %96 DF3FC3D @7 w@FDE@?[ %6I2D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 AC@;64Eik^DEC@?8m (6 C6?@G2E65 2? F?7:?:D965 2EE:4 2?5 A2E:@ DA246 :?E@ 2 3@?FD C@@>^365C@@> E@ 255 DBF2C6 7@@E286 E@ @FC 9@>6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|@?6J D2G:?8 DEC2E68Jik^DEC@?8m (6 4@>A2C65 >F=E:A=6 BF@E6D 7@C 2== 4@?EC24E@CD E@ 86E 4@>A6E:E:G6 3:5D[ 2?5 564:565 E@ sx* D@>6 E9:?8D =:<6 A2:?E:?8] (6 FD65 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^4C65:E\42C5D^36DE^K6C@\A6C46?EnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_ea_b_U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmK6C@\:?E6C6DE 4C65:E 42C5k^2m @776C W:?DE625 @7 2 =@2?X E@ 96=A 7:?2?46 A:646>62= :E6>D[ =:<6 p^r FA8C256D E92E H6C6 @FE\@7\D4@A6 7@C E96 4@?EC24E@C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$@>6E9:?8 DFCAC:D:?8ik^DEC@?8m x 5:5?VE 2?E:4:A2E6 9@H >F49 6G6? 2 D>2== 9@>6 C6?@G2E:@? 27764ED E96 ?@C>2= H@C<:?8 A2EE6C?D @7 J@FC 9@FD69@=5] |2?28:?8 G2C:@FD A2CE:6D 4@>:?8 2?5 8@:?8 2E 2== 9@FCD 7@C H66<D H2D 92C56C E92? x 6IA64E65Pk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%:Aik^DEC@?8m |2<6 DFC6 E@ 4@>A2C6 3:5D 2AA=6D\E@\2AA=6D] x7 J@F 86E @?6 3:5 E92E :?4=F56D 255:E:@?2= 56E2:=D[ 5@?VE 2DDF>6 J@FC =@H6C\AC:465 3:5 2=D@ :?4=F56D H@C< 2E E96 D2>6 D4@A6 — 2D< E@ 86E 4=2C:EJ]k^Am
k9amuC@?E 5@@C 2?5 7:C6A=246 C6A2:Ck^9am
kAmkDEC@?8m}6C5ik^DEC@?8m yF=:6 |J9C6\}F?6D[ >2?28:?8 65:E@Ck^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{@42E:@?ik^DEC@?8m $2? y@D6[ r2=:7@C?:2]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 AC@;64Eik^DEC@?8m (6 C6A=2465 @FC 7C@?E 5@@C 2?5 25565 2? 6=64EC:4 :?D6CE E@ @FC 7:C6A=246] (6 C65:5 E96 H:?5@HD E9C66 J62CD 28@[ 3FE 5:5?VE 92G6 E96 3F586E E@ 5@ @FC 7C@?E 5@@CD — E96JVC6 5@F3=6 5@@CD 2?5 2 4FDE@> D:K6[ D@ E96JVC6 >@C6 6IA6?D:G6] (6 <?6H E9:D FA8C256 H@F=5 >2<6 @FC 9@FD6 >@C6 6?6C8J 677:4:6?E 2?5 36EE6C 96=A C68F=2E6 E96 E6>A6C2EFC6 :? @FC 9@FD6]k^Am
kAm(6 @AE65 E@ 5@ E96 7:C6A=246 3642FD6 H6 <?6H @FCD H2D ?@E D276 E@ FD6[ 2?5 3FC?:?8 H@@5 :? >J 2C62 :D?VE G6CJ 4@>>@? 3642FD6 @7 “$A2C6 E96 p:C” 52JD] (6 92G6 =:G65 :? @FC 9@FD6 7@C D:I J62CD 2?5 7:?2==J H2?E65 E@ 92G6 2 4@KJ 7:C6A=246 7@C E96 9@=:52JD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|@?6J D2G:?8 DEC2E68Jik^DEC@?8m (6 D2G65 FA 7@C E96 5@@CD[ 3FE C62=:K65 @FC Q:562= 3F586EQ 5:5?VE C62==J C67=64E C62=:EJ] (6 92G6 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^>@CE8286D^=62C?^96=@4\9@>6\6BF:EJ\=:?6\@7\4C65:EnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_ea_b_U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmwt{~rk^2m[ D@ H6 5:5 92G6 E@ 5:A :?E@ E92E 2 3:E 7@C E96 5@@CD] (6 2C6 :? @FC 7@C6G6C 9@>6[ 2?5 5:5?VE H2?E E@ D6EE=6 7@C 5@@CD H6 5:5?VE =@G6[ D@ H6 DA=FC865 2 3:E 2?5 8@E E96 6I24E 5@@C H6 H2?E65] ~FC 9@FD6 925 E96 @C:8:?2= 5@@CD W7C@> `heeX[ D@ E9:D H2D 2 >2;@C FA8C256]k^Am
kAm(6 H6C6 23=6 E@ A2J 42D9 7@C E96 7:C6A=246] (6 ;@<6 E92E E96 E96>6 H:E9 @FC 9@FD6 :D ?@E9:?8 :D 2 QDE2?52C5 D:K6[Q H9:49 H2D 2=D@ ECF6 @7 @FC 7:C6A=246] (6 925 E@ 86E 2 4FDE@> :?D6CE[ H9:49 H2D?VE 2D 6IA6?D:G6 2D H6 E9@F89E]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$@>6E9:?8 DFCAC:D:?8ik^DEC@?8m ~FC 7:C6A=246 H2D 4=62?65 2?5 C6A2:C65 367@C6 E96 :?D6CE H2D 25565] (6VG6 ?6G6C 925 :E 4=62?65 367@C6[ 2?5 H6 5:5?VE C62=:K6 :E 4@F=5 36 4=62?65 H:E9@FE 86EE:?8 E96 5FDE^D@@E :? E96 9@FD6] %92E H2D 4@@= E@ =62C?]k^Am
kAm%96 5@@CD 5:5?VE 4@>6 H:E9 >2?J DFCAC:D6D 3642FD6 H6 C63F:=E 2== @7 E96 H:?5@HD :? @FC 9@FD6 J62CD 367@C6] %92E AC@;64E 42>6 H:E9 F?=:>:E65 DFCAC:D6D W5CJ C@E[ E6C>:E6 52>286[ D288:?8 H:?5@HD 2?5 >@C6X] (6 6IA64E65 D@>6 H:E9 E96 7C@?E 5@@CD[ 3FE :E H2D 2 C62==J D>@@E9 AC@46DD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%:Aik^DEC@?8m &?56CDE2?5 J@FC D<:==D 2?5 36 AC24E:42= H:E9 J@FCD6=7 23@FE H92E J@F 42? 2?5 42?VE 92?5=6] (6VG6 5@?6 2 92?57F= @7 sx*[ 2?5 x @C:8:?2==J :?E6?565 @? 5@:?8 E96 7:C6A=246 FA8C256 >JD6=7] ~?46 x 8@E DE2CE65[ :E H2D @G6CH96=>:?8 2?5 4@?7FD:?8[ D@ H6 @AE65 E@ 9:C6 2 AC@76DD:@?2=]k^Am
kAm#62==J 86E 2 766= 7@C E96 D2=6DA6CD@?^4@?EC24E@C 2?5 2D< 2== E96 BF6DE:@?D E@ 86E 2? :562 @7 H96E96C J@F 42? H@C< H:E9 E96>] %96J >2J ?665 E@ 4@>>F?:42E6 D@>6E9:?8 @C 4@==23@C2E6 H:E9 J@F 5FC:?8 E96 AC@;64E[ 2?5 J@F 5@?VE H2?E E@ 36 DEF4< H:E9 D@>6@?6 J@F 42?VE H@C< 2=@?8D:56]k^Am
k9am$>2CE >@G6D 7@C J@FC ?6IE 9@>6 :>AC@G6>6?Ek^9am
kAm*@F 42? =62C? 2 76H E9:?8D 7C@> E96 }6C5D’ 6IA6C:6?46Di z?@H H96? :E >2<6D D6?D6 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^9@>6\@H?6CD9:A^9@>6\:>AC@G6>6?E^=62C?^9@>6\:>AC@G6>6?E\5:J\@C\9:C6\2\AC@nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_ea_b_U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmsx* @C 9:C6 2 AC@k^2m[ 4@>A2C6 4@?EC24E@C 3:5D 42C67F==J 2?5 3F:=5 DFCAC:D6D :?E@ J@FC 3F586E]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F’C6 C625J E@ 5:G6 :?E@ 2 AC@;64E[ DE2CE 3J =62C?:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^9@>6\@H?6CD9:A^9@>6\:>AC@G6>6?E^=62C?^4@DE\C6?@G2E6\9@FD6nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_ea_b_U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm9@H >F49 E96 C6?@G2E:@?D 2?5 C6A2:CD H:== 4@DEk^2m 2?5 <?@H H92E J@FC 3F586E :D]k^Am
kAm%96?[ J@F 42? DE2CE 4@>A2C:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^9@>6\@H?6CD9:A^9@>6\:>AC@G6>6?E^=62C?^7:?2?46\9@>6\C6>@56=\H:E9@FE\6BF:EJnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_ea_b_U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmA2J>6?E @AE:@?Dk^2m 2?5 C6249:?8 @FE E@ AC@76DD:@?2=D]k^Am
kAmtG6? :7 J@F 5@?VE 92G6 2?J 9@>6 :>AC@G6>6?E ;@3D A=2??65[ :E’D D>2CE E@ E9:?< 23@FE 9@H J@F’5 92?5=6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^9@>6\@H?6CD9:A^9@>6\H2CC2?EJ^=62C?^H92E\E@\<?@H\367@C6\3FJ:?8\2\9@>6\H2CC2?EJnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_ea_b_U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmF?6IA64E65 C6A2:CD 2?5 >2:?E6?2?46k^2m 4@DED] p =62<J C@@7 @C 3FDE65 C67C:86C2E@C >2J 4@>6 <?@4<:?8 6G6?EF2==J]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F 5@?’E 2=C625J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^A6CD@?2=\=@2?D^=62C?^9@H\E@\4@G6C\2?\6>6C86?4J\6IA6?D6nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_ea_b_U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm92G6 2? 6>6C86?4J 7F?5k^2m[ ?@H’D 2 8@@5 E:>6 E@ DE2CE @?6]k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\>@C6\7C@>\?6C5H2==6EQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ|@C6 uC@> }6C5(2==6EQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0>@C607C@>0?6C5H2==6EQmkAmkDEC@?8m|@C6 uC@> }6C5(2==6Ek^DEC@?8mk^AmkF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^7:?2?46^=62C?^9@H\E@\D2G6\@?\324<\E@\D49@@=\DFAA=:6DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_ea_b_Q E:E=6lQd (2JD E@ $=2D9 q24<\E@\$49@@= $A6?5:?8Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qmd (2JD E@ $=2D9 q24<\E@\$49@@= $A6?5:?8k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^7:?2?46^?6HD^49@4@=2E6\49:A\4@@<:6\52J\562=D\a_aenFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_ea_b_Q E:E=6lQpF8] c :D }2E:@?2= r9@4@=2E6 r9:A r@@<:6 s2J U>52D9j w6C6 pC6 E96 q6DE s62=DQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`QmpF8] c :D }2E:@?2= r9@4@=2E6 r9:A r@@<:6 s2J — w6C6 pC6 E96 q6DE s62=Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^7:?2?46^?6HD^DFCG6:==2?46\AC:4:?8nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_ea_b_Q E:E=6lQ(9J E96 q@I @7 r6C62= :? |J r2CE |:89E r@DE {6DD %92? *@FCDQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qm(9J E96 q@I @7 r6C62= :? |J r2CE |:89E r@DE {6DD %92? *@FCDk^2mk^=:mk^F=mk^5:Gm
k5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@I\HAQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQpFE9@C q@I \ (!Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H02FE9@C03@I0HAQmk5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@I\HA\\:??6CQmk2D:56 :E6>D4@A6lQQ :E6>AC@AlQ2FE9@CQ :E6>EJA6lQ9EEAi^^D496>2]@C8^!6CD@?Q 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@IQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQpFE9@C q@IQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H02FE9@C03@IQmkAm{2FC6? $49H29? HC:E6D 7@C }6C5(2==6E] t>2:=i k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i=D49H29?o?6C5H2==6E]4@>Qm=D49H29?o?6C5H2==6E]4@>k^2m] %H:EE6Ci o=2FC6?0D49H29?]k^Amk^2D:56mk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
kA 4=2DDlQ?H\@C:8:?2==J\A@DE65\=:?<Qm%96 2CE:4=6 (92E *@F r2? {62C? uC@> E96 }6C5D’ w@>6 x>AC@G6>6?E !C@;64ED @C:8:?2==J 2AA62C65 @? }6C5(2==6E]k^Am
