Nearly 80 percent of homeowners are considering a home improvement project this year, and many will focus on yard-related enhancements, according to a new research study from the home advice site Kudzu.com.
Of respondents planning a home-related project, 33 percent will complete a lawn care project, 38 percent will tackle a landscaping project and 22 percent will undertake a hardscaping project. Lawn care and landscaping projects will be among the five most popular home-related tasks and are joined by painting (49 percent), home refurnishing (35 percent) and flooring (33 percent).
“Homeowners understand the importance of good curb appeal,” said Rhonda Hills, vice president and chief marketing officer at Kudzu.com. “Consumers know exterior enhancements can not only beautify their home, but it can also increase the home’s value. Landscape architects, lawn care professionals and hardscapers are very adept at developing creative, practical solutions that can drastically improve any exterior. There’s no doubt, homeowners will be lining up for these services.”
More than 60 percent of homeowners are planning to hire a home service professional in the next year, and 24 percent of those will hire a lawn care company. Professional lawn services are tied for eighth among the most sought after home professionals. They are joined by carpet cleaners (37 percent), handymen (37 percent), house cleaners (31 percent), HVAC experts (29 percent), electricians (27 percent), pest control professionals (26 percent) and plumbers (24 percent).
According to the study, 72 percent of respondents planning a hardscaping project are undecided about the brands they will choose. Belgard (6 percent), Boulder Creek Stone (5 percent) and General Shale Brick (2 percent) are among the brands receiving the most consideration.
“An overwhelming number of homeowners have no idea which brands they will consider for their hardscaping projects,” said Hills. “This creates a great opportunity for product manufacturers and landscape professionals to market directly to homeowners and establish their products and services as the brands of choice.”
The Kudzu.com homeowner’s survey was conducted between Feb. 10 and Feb. 18 and included nearly 3,500 respondents.
Kudzu.com helps homeowners plan projects, solve problems and choose highly rated contractors in their area. Kudzu.com features expert video, contractor profiles, consumer reviews and 30,500 money-saving deals for homeowners in every major U.S. city. Kudzu is distributed on more than 100 major media websites including HGTV.com and DIYnetwork.com. Kudzu is owned by Cox Search Inc., a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, a leading communications, media and automotive services company. Cox's businesses include Cox Communications, Manheim, AutoTrader.com and Cox Media Group.
