Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and, everywhere you look, animals have emerged from hibernation. We're well into a lively spring season. But, nature is not the only source of activity when the seasons change. Shifts in the weather also signal to homeowners that it is time to prepare their properties for improvements.
Some projects may be clearly related to the changing seasons. For example, gardening and landscaping typically pick up in the spring. But the Home Improvement Research Institute's Project Decision Study takes a deeper look, tracking home improvement project timelines from initial conception to full completion.
Keep reading to learn about the stages of popular seasonal projects and when to anticipate your products' purchasing stage for homeowners.
Timelines by Season
According to survey respondents, most homeowners (41%) begin thinking about home improvement projects during the first quarter of the year.
When do homeowners start thinking about home improvement projects?
The decision to take on a project is most commonly made in the second quarter, with 39% of respondents reporting doing so.
The second quarter is also the most popular time for homeowners to start projects (42%). These are the most popular months for project starts:
When it comes to project completion, most homeowners complete projects in the third quarter:
These are the most popular months for project completion:
Timelines by Project
While it is important to understand the season in which homeowners begin planning and initiating their projects, it is also worth noting that each project has its own rhythm, and more complex and expensive projects may have longer timelines than others.
For example, adding a bathroom has a particularly long timeline ' 35.5 total months on average. Homeowners give a project of this scale a great deal of consideration. In fact, the average homeowner planning a new bathroom dedicates 16 months to the consideration stage alone and, after deciding to do the project, waits another six months before starting the work. Adding any kind of room; building a patio, deck, or porch; and replacing siding all have similarly long timelines.
Here are some projects on the shorter end of the spectrum:
- Exterior painting: 14 months
- Repairing plumbing fixtures: 13 months
- Gardening/landscaping: 8 months
Learning how and when homeowners plan for projects can be key for manufacturers to prepare for influxes. If you are a HIRI member, access our full Project Decision Study now to get all the data across product lines.
Not a HIRI member? Sign up today.
