Understanding generational trends in home renovations
As homeowners from younger generations begin to dominate the home ownership and renovation market, the tools and resources they are using to plan and execute renovations continue to evolve. These changes in behaviors, paired with advances in technology – like artificial intelligence – are important for professionals in the home services industry to consider as they shape their services and offerings for diverse types of homeowners. This article will discuss what we have learned about the tastes, preferences and behaviors of various generations of homeowners from our experience with renovating over 1000 rooms.
The Silent Generation & Baby Boomers
Baby Boomers, who tend to have lived in their homes for a long time, take a more analog approach to home renovations. The majority of Baby Boomers rely on word of mouth and referrals from friends and neighbors to source recommendations for renovation professionals and educate themselves about the process and potential costs. They tend to be more skeptical of online resources and platforms for home renovations and gravitate to using traditional sources for design inspiration, like magazines, newspapers, kitchen showrooms, or other homes in their neighborhood. Additionally, because older generations tend to have more savings and see their spaces as their ‘forever home,’ they are more likely to invest in their spaces, prioritizing quality finishes and materials over cost savings.
Generation X
Generation X tends to be more open to experimenting with using online platforms to plan and execute their renovations. They typically find contractors through a combination of online searches, referrals, and review platforms. Compared to Baby Boomers, they are comfortable using established online platforms, like Houzz and Pinterest, to gain design inspiration for their renovation projects.
Millennials
Millennials, known for their tech-savviness, predominantly find contractors through online platforms, social media, and home improvement apps. Being more comfortable and open to using emerging technologies, Millennials seek out and are excited to experiment with AI-driven tools for design and planning. AI-powered apps and software are empowering Millennials to take more ownership over their renovation projects by helping them visualize designs in their own spaces, experiment with different layouts, and receive personalized design recommendations. Because of the time they spend planning themselves, Millennials tend to be more educated and informed about renovations and confident in their approach than Generation X and Baby Boomer homeowners. To appeal to this audience, we’ve been producing social media videos focused on renovation costs, which homeowners have appreciated for their transparent and straightforward information. With significant price variations across different locations and project scopes, this information helps homeowners to budget and plan appropriately.
Generation Z
While Generation Z is just beginning to enter the homeownership and renovation market, they are already making their mark. The homeownership rates for 19-to-25-year-old Gen Zers are higher than the homeownership rates were for Millennials and Gen Xers when they were the same age. With the rise of platforms like TikTok, this generation is constantly absorbing tips and tricks from home improvement influencers and is more inclined towards taking a DIY-approach towards projects until they save up enough money to hire a professional for more ambitious remodels. Additionally, instead of using traditional platforms like Houzz and Pinterest, Gen Zers rely heavily on social media for inspiration, with many of them solely relying on Instagram and Tiktok to find and save ideas for their project.
Technology and the future of home renovations
The past year has witnessed a remarkable proliferation of AI-driven interior design and home renovation planning tools, from apps that can help you visualize a new space in a single click to AI-powered cost calculators that help you estimate the cost of your next project. However, we are only starting to see homeowners adopt these new tools. Many homeowners, especially among older generations like Baby Boomers and Gen X, are still skeptical of this technology. Over the next few years, we expect to see home renovation design and planning tools become more accurate and personalized, making homeowners of all generations smarter about their next projects through data-driven, localized pricing and professional-quality recommendations for how to improve their space.
Addressing the evolving needs of homeowners
Understanding generational trends and technological advancements is essential for anyone involved in home renovations. Each generation brings unique preferences and approaches, from the traditional methods of the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers to the tech-savvy, DIY-focused attitudes of Millennials and Gen Zers. Embracing these differences and integrating emerging technologies can lead to more personalized, efficient, and innovative renovation projects. As the industry continues to evolve, staying adaptable will be key to meeting the diverse needs of all homeowners.
By Madeline Winer
Madeline Winer is based out of New York City and leads User Experience Research at Block Renovation. Block Renovation is a streamlined platform where homeowners and contractors can get all of the tools and resources needed to plan and manage major renovation projects. At Block, she works with homeowners and contractors to understand their experiences with Block’s technology and services, leveraging their feedback to inform product and services changes.