The Most-Wanted Home Improvements Post-Pandemic

One aspect of the coronavirus pandemic that many people can relate to is that it’s kept us in our homes more. Since we’re spending more time there than ever before, it’s only natural for people to find things they’d like to change about their house.

So, how do people feel about their homes, and what kind of changes would they make? In a new study, Sears Home Services collected home improvement data from 1,023 people across the country, all facing the same pandemic. They shared how their spaces influence their satisfaction level, if they get alone time, and even the improvements they most wanted to make.

Here are some of the highlights from the study.

Home Satisfaction Since the Pandemic

Approximately 44% of people were feeling less satisfied with their home since the beginning of the pandemic. About one in three people became happier with their residence during this time frame. Just 22% of people felt indifferent about their home after spending so much time there over the past few months.

Nearly half of people who live in homes of fewer than 1,000 square feet were less satisfied with their living space compared to just 40% those residing in homes 1,000 square feet or larger.

Overall, the more bedrooms a person’s house had, the more satisfied they seemed to be with their setup. About 34% of people with a four-bedroom home said they were satisfied with their living situation, while 50% of people with a one-bedroom home said they were less satisfied with their surroundings.

If the homeowner had children, 47% of respondents reported feeling less satisfied. That compared to the 37% of unhappy homeowners without kids.

‘Me Time’ at Home

How many people were able to find some alone time during the pandemic? More than two in five people said finding time alone was more difficult since the pandemic started. This percentage was higher among women (46%) than men (40%).

Women without children were able to find more alone hours in a week (8.8 hours), compared to women with children (6.6 hours) who reported the least amount of alone time among those analyzed. On average, people reported getting 7.2 hours of alone time a week but preferred 8.4 hours.

Overall, 44% of respondents said they get less than their preferred amount of weekly alone time.

Which Upgrades Do People Want Post-Pandemic?

So, what were some improvements people wanted to make to their home since the pandemic began? More than two in five people wanted to add a home gym, 37% wanted to incorporate a home office, and nearly one in three wanted to add a gaming space to their home.

Respondents were least likely to want to add a bathtub (17%), garage or workshop (19%), or an additional bathroom (20%).

Depending on what the respondents wanted to add to their home, men seemed to be more willing to incorporate new features than women.

Being home more often has its advantages. We can see family more often and avoid commutes to work, to name a couple. Sometimes, spending more time in your home helps you find the things you would like to change about it. Whether homeowners make those changes or not, it could have an impact on a home’s value. Just a few simple adjustments could make people money in the long run, while increasing their happiness in the present.

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Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.