Fall is all about turning your home into a cozy respite for the cold weather ahead. But before the real hibernation begins, there are a few projects around the home that must get done. Seasonal maintenance—like cleaning out your gutters, raking leaves, and tree trimming—ensures your home is ready for winter and prevents any seasonal mishaps. But in addition to those essential annual tasks, there are a few fun projects many homeowners plan to tackle during fall and winter. For this reason, Thumbtack released its list of the top home projects homeowners are prioritizing heading into winter.
Top Trending Home Projects Ahead of Winter
With mortgage rates reaching their highest level in two decades, buying a home in today’s market is challenging. As a result, more homeowners are investing in their current home rather than buying. According to Thumbtack, construction services are up 114 percent year over year, while room remodels are up almost 39 percent. Here are some of the remodels homeowners are prioritizing ahead of winter.
Kitchen Renovations
The first room homeowners are prioritizing is the kitchen. About 36 percent of homeowners are planning new cabinet installations for increased kitchen storage. When it comes to design, Thumbtack is seeing a desire to pair wood cabinetry with natural stone countertops to create a clean, minimalist look.
Closet Remodels
Homeowners are also interested in increasing their home’s storage solutions this fall and winter. Closet remodels are up 53 percent year over year, with most homeowners remodeling because they want to add storage and built-in shelving. Another area of the home where homeowners want to maximize storage space is the garage. Garage additions or remodels are up 41 percent year over year with 32 percent of the remodels being driven by a desire to add storage space, according to Thumbtack.
Spa-Like Bathrooms
Bathroom remodels are up nearly 22 percent since last year. Of that group, most homeowners (54.7 percent) want to update the style of their bathroom, while 27 percent want to simply replace their bathroom fixtures. One thing is clear, though—homeowners want to turn their bathrooms into a retreat. Thumbtack has seen an increase in spa luxuries being brought into the home, including soaking tubs, steam showers, heated floors, and bidets.
Smart Features
Homeowners are looking for easy ways to make their homes more modern by installing smart features. Smart home installations are up 142 percent year over year, with 85 percent of homeowners looking to install a new system. The installations they’re most interested in include: a smart thermostat (42.4 percent), smart lock (18.2 percent), smart camera (14.4 percent), smart lighting (7.6 percent).
Thumbtack’s Most-Booked Projects for Fall and Winter:
Seasonal maintenance in an essential aspect of being a homeowner. According to Thumbtack’s data, homeowners aren’t sleeping on their fall and winter to-dos. For example, roof inspections are up 108 percent since last year with almost half (45.4 percent) focused on routine check-ups. Here’s a closer look at the projects homeowners are prioritizing this fall.
Most Booked Projects This Fall:
- Lawn Mowing and Trimming
- Full Service Lawn Care
- Tree Trimming or Removal
- Roof Repair and Maintenance
- Outdoor Landscaping and Design
- Pest Control Services
- Pressure Washing
- Exterior Painting
- Fence and Gate Installation
- Concrete Installation
Most-Booked Indoor Projects Ahead of the Holidays:
- House Cleaning
- Junk Removal
- Interior Painting
- TV Mounting
- Furniture Assembly
- Floor Installation
- Carpet Cleaning
- Drywall Repair and Texturing
- Lighting Installation
- Tile Installation
Most-Booked Repair Projects This Fall:
- Appliance Repair
- Electrical Repair
- Plumbing Pipe Repair
- Roof Repair
- Plumbing Drain Repair
- Central Air Conditioning Repair
- Drywall Repair
- Sprinkler and Irrigation System Repair
- Garage Door Repair
- Lock Repair