GSA Daily Staff Report

Published July 16, 2010

While many people have plans to update their homes, 75% of respondents to the GSA Daily Watercooler Question of the Week have not started those renovation projects.

Of those who haven’t started, half said they couldn’t afford it right now.

This week, GSA Daily asked readers what renovation projects they had planned and whether they had started those projects. GSA Daily also asked readers why they had put projects on hold, if that was the case, and to rate the contractor’s price if they had proceeded with construction plans.

Here’s what readers said:

On projects, 18.5% said they’d like to build an addition; 20.4% planned a bathroom remodel; 16.7% a kitchen remodel; 11.1% plan to install new flooring; 7.4% wanted updated windows; 9.3%, roofing or siding; 13%, landscaping; 3.7% said they had no need for a home renovation.

Of those with plans, 75.5% said they have not started, while the remaining 24.5% have started.

Among people who started projects, 64.7% reported a fair price; 11.8% said the project was very expensive; 11.8% said above average; 11.8% said below average; and no one answered that the project was very inexpensive.

Here are some comments on the cost:

“Have had hardwood floors refinished, bath tile professionally cleaned and re caulked and repointed, carpets cleaned and one room replaced, outside trim touched up, and deck pressure washed, new rails installed and all water sealed. I felt all the work was done at very reasonable prices.”

“Doing most of it myself.”

Among those who hadn’t started projects, 56.8% said they can’t afford it; 16.2% said they’d rather hire a crew in the fall; 10.8% said the family couldn’t agree on a project; 8.1% said they were procrastinating; and 8.1% said they would do it themselves.

Here are some comments on putting plans on hold:

“Just finished three other house projects and am poor right now.”

“You're assuming most people believe the positive things economists are saying rather than dealing with actual facts. Accordingly, your survey has omitted some choices that would better answer your survey. I'm a small business owner who would not dare make any major purchases that could wait.”

“Looking for right contractor.”

There were 54 respondents to this week’s survey.

The GSA Daily Watercooler Question of the Week is published each Tuesday. Results appear on Friday.