All About the Remodeling Industry How is the remodeling market outlook? Americans spent $152.5 billion on improvements to owner-occupied units in 2017. NAHB’s remodeling forecast expects these expenditures to increase gradually as the broader housing market recovers. Beyond general recovery in the housing market, key factors driving increases in remodeling expenditures will include: preparing homes for re-sale, adding ‘finishing touches’ to a newly purchased home, the aging housing stock, needed aging in place remodeling work, and increasing interest in improving home efficiency and green remodeling. Who remodels? According to the 2017 Joint Center for Housing Survey Studies of Harvard University, households under the age of 35 account for 8.3 percent of the money spent by home owners on professional remodeling jobs. Home owners between the ages of 35 and 54 account for 40.1 percent, home owners 55 and older account for 51.6 percent. What are the most popular remodeling jobs? According to NAHB surveys, the top jobs ordered by popularity are:

• Bathroom remodeling • Kitchen remodeling • Windows/doors replacement • Whole house remodeling • Room additions • Repairing property damage

• Finished basement • Handyman services • Siding • Roofing • Decks • Enclosed/added porch

Measuring the Industry In addition to benefitting those who live in remodeled homes, remodeling also has the ability to stimulate the U.S. economy. The latest estimates released by NAHB demonstrate that for every $100,000 spent on home remodeling in the U.S., $48,000 in wages and salaries are generated. This translates to job creation of nine tenths of a full time job or enough work to keep one person employed for 47 weeks of a year. Who are remodelers? According to NAHB’s latest member census, a typical residential remodeler has an average of 8 employees and has a median dollar volume of $771,829 million per year. Seven percent are female and 44 percent have completed college or have an advanced degree.

Finding the Right Professional Home Remodeler

Where to Look• Search the NAHB Remodelers directory at nahb.org/remodelerdirectory• Get a list of members from your local home builders’ association pabuilders.org/find-a-local

• Look on home improvement websites such as Houzzhouzz.com/OrganizationMembers/nahb

• Ask friends or neighbors for referrals

Why Hire an NAHB Remodeler?Membership in NAHB Remodelers indicates a remodeler’s commitment to professional quality construction, responsible business management and reliable customer service. Members have:

• Pledged to a Code of Ethics that includes compliancewith rules and regulations, fair pricing, qualityworkmanship and prompt timelines.

• Access to resources on the latest regulations, codes,new products and construction techniques.

• A network of local and national suppliers,subcontractors and industry experts.

• Often earned professional designations to gain advancedtraining and specialized knowledge, such as CertifiedGraduate Remodeler (CGR), Graduate Master Remodeler(GMR) and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS).

Remodeling your home can add safety, comfort, convenience and space to what can be the most valuable asset you own. It’s important to find the right remodeler for the job.

Vetting Your Professional

Home Remodeler

10 Questions to Ask a Prospective Remodeler Before Signing a ContractDo you have experience with similar projects and homes in this area?Do you have Worker’s Comp and Liability insurance and the appropriate state license(s)?Do you belong to any trade associations or hold any professional designations?Will you provide the estimate, contract, schedule and change orders in writing?Can you provide customer and professional references?Who will supervise the project every day?Will the workers be your employees or subcontractors?How will you protect my home and safety during the work?How will you communicate project status updates?What type of warranty do you offer?

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Warning Signs of a “Scam” Contractor• Lack of insurance and any state-required license.• Asks you to sign something before you’ve

decided to hire them.• Doesn’t provide a written contract.• Requires cash or payment in full before starting

work. (A deposit is common after a signed contract)• Vastly underbids all other contractors.• Offers “today only/special” pricing.• Can’t provide customer references.• Doesn’t have an office mailing address,

phone number, or email.• Requires that you obtain the

building/remodeling permits yourself.

When you’re ready to hire your remodeler, get a detailed written contract that protects both parties, outlines the scope of work, provides a fair payment schedule, and complies with local, state and federal laws.

For more tips and

ideas for remodeling

your home, go to

nahb.org/remodel.