Seeing is Believing

What do you think is the deciding factor when selecting a showroom or design professional to work with? Reviews? Website? Portfolio of work? Word of mouth?

According to the Truth about Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations Survey, conducted by Hausera, examples of past projects is the most important factor consumers use to select a showroom or design professional to design their new kitchen or bath. Pictures of completed projects were more influential than online ratings and reviews! 38% of respondents reported a professional portfolio that shows examples of past work mattered the most in selecting a company to renovate a kitchen, bath or laundry room. 35% of respondents used recommendations from family or friends as the main criterion for selecting a remodeler and 35% said online ratings and reviews mattered the most.

The survey queried homeowners across the US in all age groups of which 80% had undertaken a kitchen, bath or laundry room renovation in the past two years and 60% reported that they plan to renovate in the next two years. The primary reason, cited by 41% of respondents, for renovating is adapting to family or lifestyle change due to a disability or aging in place. Additional reasons are to increase the value of a property prior to selling cited by 38% of respondents and improve the functionality of existing space reported by 38% of respondents.

Nearly 70% of respondents relied on a specialty design professional such as a kitchen designer to design their new kitchen, bath or laundry room. Others homeowners relied upon for their renovation included interior designers (61%), remodeling contractors (58%) and architects (45%).

Staying on budget was the number one challenge for their renovation, followed by finding the right professionals and financing their projects.

Smart internet-connected products were identified by 48% of homeowners on their wish lists that included smart lighting systems (58%), hands-free faucets (52%) and Wi-Fi connected refrigerators (47%). 51% of homeowners reported that they plan to buy products that are environmentally efficient. The most wanted green products were energy efficient lighting (52%), energy-efficient dishwashers (49%), water conserving showerheads (45%), toilets (43%) and faucets (42%).

So how can we use this information to grow our businesses?

• Make sure you have professional quality photos of your finished projects on your website and social media outlets, and a professional portfolio that puts your projects in the best light. 
• If the primary reason why consumers are renovating are to age in place gracefully, tout your universal design capabilities and products.
• If staying on budget is the number one challenge for homeowners undertaking kitchen and bath renovations, are you providing guidance to enable them to do so? 
• If financing is the third biggest challenge facing homeowners remodeling, can you provide assistance? 
• Is there a reason why you are not displaying energy-efficient lighting, toilets, faucets in your showroom? Is there a reason why your displays don’t feature hands-free faucet operations.