Joint NAR/NARI Report examines numerous remodeling tasks and provides a cost recovery estimate for the projects

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (Aug. 4, 2022) – A recent nationwide report may help to enlighten Staten Islanders pondering a home remodeling project, according to the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR).

The Island real estate association points to findings in the 2022 Remodeling Impact Report, a joint study from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) released earlier this year.

U.S. households saw homeowners and families embarked on a wide variety of renovations and remodeling projects over the past year, according to the report, which analyzes a number of home improvement aspects, including why people decide to remodel, the general costs of specific remodeling tasks, and the fulfillment experienced after a successful project has been completed.

“Our study revealed that homeowners tend to undertake a remodeling project for any number of reasons,” said Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and behavioral insights at NAR. “In some instances, homeowners were content with sprucing up a room with a simple paint job, while in other cases, families decided to take on the task of renovating an entire attic or basement to add additional living space to their home.”

According to the report, Americans spent $420 billion in 2020 on home remodeling ventures. Ninety percent of NARI members cited a greater demand for contracting remodeling work during the course of the pandemic. Three out of five NARI members – 60 percent – said the scale of the projects grew either in a larger project or remodeling more than one room due to the pandemic.

“This report is the first one to measure the impact of the pandemic on the price and relative value of various remodeling projects,” said Chris Egner, president of NARI. “We are glad that NARI members, who are among the most experienced remodelers, could provide realistic estimates of remodeling costs in line with the criteria specified in the survey.”

PANDEMIC’S IMPACT

Although 83 percent of consumers stated that they would have remodeled regardless of the pandemic, 86 percent reported that remodeling one area of their home subsequently inspired them to remodel other areas of the house.

The exact reasons why homeowners decided to modify their living spaces varied. Thirty-five percent of owners said the single most important result from their remodel was better functionality and livability. Upon completion of their project, 22 percent said they had durable and long-lasting results, materials and appliances. Fourteen percent reported beauty and aesthetics as a result of their remodel.

“The pandemic has changed the way we use our homes, and many of those changes are here to stay,” said Lautz. “As a result, homeowners needed to reconfigure or remodel how they use their home and maximize space.”

More than a third of owners (35 percent) hired a professional for their entire project, while 28 percent reported that they hired someone for the labor but purchased the necessary materials. Twenty-two percent of homeowners did the full project themselves, from start to finish.

MEASURING SATISFACTION

The NAR/NARI report aimed to calculate consumers’ viewpoints toward their projects upon completion. Projects that made the renovators want to remain home, or remodel jobs that sparked an increase of enjoyment among occupants, received a high Joy Score, with 10 being considered a perfect “Joy Score.” Some tasks that were awarded scores of 10 were as follows: Painting a home’s entire interior, painting one room, adding a home office, hardwood floor refinishing, closet renovation, and insulation upgrades, among other labors.

Hardwood floor refinishing received a 10 Joy Score because the homeowners felt happiness and satisfaction in their home after undertaking the upgrade. Sixty-four percent of those polled answered that they have an increased sense of enjoyment when they are at home now that their hardwood flooring is installed. Another 64 percent said just thinking about the completed project gives them a “major sense of accomplishment.”

Adding a new home office is another task that earned a perfect Joy Score based on homeowners’ sentiments. Ninety-one percent of consumers said they have a greater desire to be home now that their office is in place. Seventy-three percent said they have an increased sense of enjoyment when they are home.

RECOVERING COSTS

The NAR/NARI report also examines numerous remodeling tasks and provides a cost recovery estimate for the projects. The genuine cost of each remodeling project and cost recovery are influenced by many factors, including project design, quality of materials, location, age and condition of the home, and homeowner preferences.

“Quite often, an added benefit to home renovations is the possibility of an increase in the home’s value, which is a reason why some people remodel,” said Lautz. “This is especially advantageous to a homeowner who may be considering selling their house or converting the home to a rental property.”

Realtors® provided an estimate of the likely dollar value each project would add to a house during resale. In comparing that dollar value to the estimated cost of each job provided by NARI members, a Recovered Project Cost percentage was tabulated.

In regard to interior projects, the highest percentage cost recovered was from refinishing hardwood floors at 147 percent. New wood flooring was at 118 percent, and an insulation upgrade was at 100 percent. Among exterior projects, new roofing and a new garage door both recovered 100 percent of the project costs.

Kitchen upgrades were also popular among homeowners, with the task receiving a 9.8 Joy Score. The top reason (32 percent) to take on a kitchen overhaul was the desire to upgrade worn out surfaces, finishes or materials. The second top reason (20 percent) was to add features and improve livability.

According to NARI remodelers’ cost estimate, the average kitchen remodel would be about $45,000. Realtors® estimated that $30,000 of that sum could be recovered as a result of the renovation. That would be a 67 percent recovery rate.

About NAR’s and NARI’s Survey

In autumn of 2021, homeownership site HouseLogic.com surveyed consumers regarding the last remodeling project they undertook. A total of 1,182 respondents took the online survey. The Joy Score was calculated by combining the share who were happy and those who were satisfied when seeing their completed project and dividing the share by 10 to create a ranking between 1 and 10. Higher Joy Scores indicate greater joy from the project.

Also, in autumn of 2021, NARI emailed a cost survey to its 5,778 members. A total of 210 responses were received. The survey had an adjusted response rate of 3.6 percent. Respondents were asked to consider certain parameters when assessing the cost.

In February 2022, NAR emailed remodeling project surveys to a random sample of 95,921 members. A total of 4,792 responses were received (see report for full methodology).

The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

About the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR)

Established in 1915, the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR) is the largest professional association in Staten Island, N.Y.

SIBOR exists to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business successfully and ethically, and promote the preservation of the public’s right to own, transfer and use real property.

Comprised of approximately 2,500 members, SIBOR serves real estate agents, brokers and affiliated professionals throughout the borough and surrounding areas.

SIBOR is the provider of the Staten Island Multiple Listing Service Inc. (SIMLS), which works as a clearinghouse through which more than 275 local real estate firms exchange information on properties they have listed for sale. Together, its members participate in over 5,000 real estate transactions every year.

All SIBOR Realtors belong to the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

SIBOR may be reached at 718-928-3220 and viewed online at SIBORREALTORS.com. SIBOR may also be visited on Facebook at Staten Island Board of Realtors, Twitter via @SIBOR and Instagram at SIBOR REALTORS (siborrealtors).

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Media Contact: Barton Horowitz

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