Houzz saw a 58% increase in U.S. project leads for home professionals during the month of June, as compared with the same period in 2019. During the warm summer season, searches for outdoor professionals saw the greatest increase, with pool and spa professionals up 3 times and landscape contractors, deck and patio professionals each more than doubling in year over year comparisons. Popularity for home extensions and additions grew by 52%, so it’s no surprise that searches for general contractors and architects to assist with these projects increased by 61% and 24%, respectively. Professionals working on interior spaces have also seen an uptick in demand, with June 2020 searches for kitchen and bath remodelers up 40% and interior designers up 19%.
Customization is Key
The types of projects homeowners pursued speak to a need for personalization. Custom furniture, built-ins, bookcases, exterior doors, shelving and walk-in closets all saw an increase in popularity during June (185%, 128%, 126%, 107%, 99% and 59%, respectively), as compared with activity during June 2019.
“There is an incredible rise in consumer interest for home improvement projects that will help people better enjoy their time at home, and they are coming to Houzz to find professionals that can make those changes a reality,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing at Houzz. “Over the past year we’ve made many significant additions and improvements to how our platform helps homeowners find and connect with the right professional for their project — enabling people to directly schedule video meetings with pros through Houzz Pro is just one example — and we’re really seeing the impact of those investments in the number and quality of connections we’re making.”