| Do-it-yourself home improvement projects are | | | | had landscaping work performed or had the |
| probably more common than expected. According | | | | interior of their homes painted or |
| to Arbitron, a major media service, an | | | | wallpapered. However, a very small percentage |
| average of 49% of adults in seventy-five | | | | of consumers installed a home security system |
| cities nationwide made home improvements in | | | | or added a pool or spa. Though smaller home |
| the past year. This is according to a new | | | | projects are popular, it appears that |
| study by Scarborough Research. What can be | | | | consumers' willingness to spend more on their |
| gathered from the survey results is that | | | | homes is increasing. It found that thirty-six |
| consumers in the smaller markets may spend | | | | percent of those involved in a home |
| more money on home improvement projects than | | | | improvement project spent over $3,000, as |
| their larger city counterparts. The top city | | | | compared to thirty percent in 1999. |
| from those surveyed is Harrisburg, | | | | |
| Pennsylvania where 59% of its residents began | | | | The study also found that over half of |
| a home improvement project in the past twelve | | | | consumers remodeled their kitchens themselves |
| months. Buffalo, New York and Toledo, Ohio | | | | while only four percent paid a professional |
| ranked in as the second cities surveyed with | | | | to do the work. It could be gathered that do |
| 56% of consumers initiating a home | | | | it yourself projects (DIY) are becoming |
| improvement project in the past year. Some of | | | | increasingly popular. Other DIY projects |
| the other cities with over half of the | | | | include interior painting or wallpapering |
| residents beginning or completing a project | | | | (78%), remodeled bathrooms (61%) and |
| include Detroit, Michigan, Atlanta, Georgia, | | | | landscaping (76%), On the contrary, home |
| Syracuse, New York, to name a new. Honolulu | | | | security systems rank high as work performed |
| ranked in at the least likely to begin home | | | | by a professional installer at 81%. Other |
| improvement projects with only 37% of its | | | | jobs usually performed by a third party |
| residents making any home improvements in the | | | | include heating or air conditioning at 76% |
| past twelve months. Other cities performing | | | | and carpeting, tile and floor covering at |
| less than average improvements include | | | | 63%. |
| Fresno, California (40%), Washington, DC | | | | |
| (44%), Chicago (45%) and San Diego (42%), | | | | Finally, the study also found that internet |
| among others. | | | | users are more likely to make improvements to |
| | | | their home. For example, those spending more |
| These survey results can help marketers and | | | | than $1,000 or more online are nineteen |
| others in the home project industry by | | | | percent more likely to engage in a home |
| examining local purchasing and improvement | | | | improvement project. Interestingly, the study |
| behaviors, which in this case show that it is | | | | also found that individuals who listen to |
| important to sometimes look in those less | | | | '70s Oldies, Classic Hits, New Country and |
| obvious places. The survey also found that | | | | All Sports radio stations are fourteen |
| certain projects are more popular than | | | | percent more likely to begin home |
| others. Twenty-five percent of individuals | | | | improvements. |