Block Renovation's 2025 Report: How America Renovates
Block Renovation, an innovative AI platform dedicated to home renovations, has recently unveiled its report titled
How America Renovates. This comprehensive survey included insights from over 1,000 homeowners across the United States, revealing critical trends related to budgeting, emotional challenges, and the increasing reliance on technology in home renovations.
Home Renovation Stress and Financial Realities
One notable finding is that 85% of homeowners encounter significant stress during their renovation projects. The report also highlights that 39% of Millennials experienced strain on their personal relationships due to the pressures of renovations—far higher than the 15% of Baby Boomers reporting similar issues. This statistic underscores the emotional toll that renovating can have, especially for younger homeowners.
Financially, the report demonstrates that 73% of Americans are using personal savings to fund their renovations. This method of financing is significantly more common than using credit cards (17%) or home equity loans (15%). Interestingly, while Baby Boomers and Generation X often rely solely on savings, Millennials tend to supplement their budgets with credit paths, possibly indicating a generational difference in financial strategy. Despite best budgeting efforts, more than a third (37%) of homeowners ended up exceeding their renovation budgets. High costs for materials and labor frequently contributed to these overruns, with 58% attributing their overspending to unexpected material costs.
The Reason Behind Renovations
With rising interest rates and soaring housing prices, many homeowners are choosing to renovate rather than relocate. In fact, 64% of those surveyed love their current homes and wish to improve them, while 12% indicated that they felt priced out of the housing market. This sentiment is even more pronounced among Millennials, 17% of whom cited cost as the primary motivation for their renovations. In competitive markets, such as many areas in the West, 16% of homeowners also chose to renovate instead of moving.
The Role of Technology in Renovation
As homeowners navigate these financial and emotional challenges, technology plays an increasingly critical role in the renovation process. Approximately 45% of Millennials are now turning to online platforms to find contractors, significantly different from Baby Boomers, who are more likely to rely on referrals (70%) and recommendations. The adoption of AI also shows promise—though currently only 9% of homeowners leverage AI tools for their renovations, this number is growing. Notably, 16% of Millennials reported utilizing AI in their renovation projects, with common applications including design planning (73%) and cost estimation (52%). Such technology can streamline the renovation process, offering significant relief to those involved.
Overcoming Challenges in Renovation
Despite the advancements in technology, challenges remain prominent. The report indicates that securing a reliable contractor is one of the key hurdles facing many homeowners. However, with tools offered by Block Renovation, homeowners can ease some of this burden. Their platform provides personalized planning, connects homeowners with vetted contractors, and offers real-time transparency on costs and processes. The goal is to allow homeowners to navigate their renovation journey with confidence and clarity.
In conclusion, the findings from Block Renovation's report present a multifaceted picture of the American renovation landscape in 2025. Homeowners are deeply invested in their spaces, motivated not only by financial considerations but emotional ones as well, such as maintaining their cherished homes and strengthening family ties. As attitudes shift towards flexibility and creative solutions in renovation, the integration of technology will undoubtedly help shape the future of how Americans renovate their homes.
For more detailed insights and the full report, homeowners can visit
Block Renovation's website.