Cold Front Ahead: Top Trending Home Projects Going Into Winter
David Steckel•Last updated Oct 19, 2022
Last updated Oct 19, 2022
Table of Contents
- Homeowners Are Already Prepping for the Holidays
- Outdoor Spaces Are Still Top of Mind
- These are the most booked outdoor projects of fall:
- Forgoing Inspections and Delaying Maintenance is Coming Back to Bite Homeowners
- Climate Change Is Driving More Maintenance and Repair Projects
- Trendcasting: A Rise in Accessibility and Sustainability
- Your Own Seasonal To-Do List
There’s something about fall that makes us all want to reset and get things in order — summer vacations are over, kids are back in school, and families are getting their homes ready for holiday celebrations. Fall also happens to be the most important season to properly shut down and change over your systems to avoid costly damage come spring, as once the temperature starts to drastically fluctuate, materials start to flex and crack.
According to our latest consumer survey of 1,000 Americans, 65% of current homeowners say they plan to invest in their current primary residence to make it a “dream home,” and with the holidays approaching, 51% of homeowners are planning to use local home service professionals more this season.
From small repairs and large renovations to crucial maintenance, homeowners are ready to tackle the projects they’ve been procrastinating on this season. An overwhelming 90% of current homeowners are planning to make at least one improvement to their home within the next year. We’re anticipating supply and materials shortages will continue to impact homeowners in the coming year.
We took a look at our database of millions of home projects across the country to uncover the top trends heading into fall and winter 2022. Here’s what we found.
Homeowners Are Already Prepping for the Holidays
Holiday decorating is starting earlier and earlier each year, with a rise in lighting installations for not only Christmas and Hanukkah, but Halloween as well. If you love Halloween home decor, you’re in good company. Americans will spend upwards of $3.4 billion on Halloween decorations this year. Because of this rise in popularity, we’ve developed a handy guide full of spooktacular advice and decoration ideas to dress up your home inside and out.
According to our data, seasonal lighting installations are up 46% year over year already, and fireplace and chimney repairs and cleanings are up 186% over the past 3 months alone. What used to begin at Thanksgiving is now spiking as early as September.
With this new trend of booking even earlier in mind, plan ahead and book your holiday light installations early this year to make sure you can get a pro when you need them! On Thumbtack, the average cost for hanging holiday lights is typically between $168-$300 depending on the size of your home and the number of lights. Professional installers can hang up your holiday lights at the beginning of the season, and remove them after the holidays.
And for those planning to host this holiday season, be sure to do a deep clean (typically $145) for pre and post-events and get your chimney or fireplace serviced (typically between $100-$180) to avoid fire hazards, as nothing adds to the vibe of a get-together quite like a fire.
Among the most booked indoor projects ahead of the holidays are:
- House cleaning — $180 avg. cost
- Interior painting — $917/room avg. cost
- Furniture assembly — $120 avg. cost
- TV mounting — $125 avg. cost
- Carpet cleaning — $150 avg. cost
- Floor installations — $1,200–2,000 avg. cost
- Lighting installations — $175 avg. cost
- Tile installations — $600–901 avg. cost
- Fan installations — $125–200 avg. cost
- Duct and vent cleaning — $200 avg. cost
Outdoor Spaces Are Still Top of Mind
A focus on outdoor spaces was certainly high over the summer but doesn’t seem to be slowing down even as we head into the colder months. Nearly one-third of homeowners plan to make a substantial investment into their outdoor spaces while 36% plan to invest in their home’s exterior, and 12% plan to add a pool or hot tub. Additionally, low-investment additions like string lights, a fire pit, or an outdoor pizza oven, can create a cosy outdoor aesthetic that will make spending time outdoors in the colder (and darker) months, much more enjoyable for the whole family.
Ahead of winter, we recommend cleaning your gutters ($200 avg. cost), doing a leaf cleanup ($135 avg. cost), aerating and overseeding your lawn ($92 avg. cost), and winterizing your sprinkler system (which you can DIY!). These simple tasks will help you avoid flooding and will set up your lawn for success in the spring.
These are the most booked outdoor projects of fall:
- Lawn mowing — $100 avg. cost
- Junk removal — $150 avg. cost
- Full service lawn care — $100 avg. cost
- Landscaping — $1,034–5,720 avg. cost
- Tree trimming/removal — $490 avg. cost
- Pest control services — $125 avg. cost
- Fence/gate installations — $988 avg. cost (not including materials)
- Pressure washing — $300 avg. cost
- Concrete installations — $3–10/sq ft avg. cost
- Exterior painting — $1,800–8,500 avg cost
Additionally, we’re seeing a pop in outdoor project installations and maintenance. Among the top trending outdoor projects are gazebo installation (+100% YoY), above-ground swimming pool installations (+42% YoY), hot tub and spa maintenance (+29% YoY), mosquito control services (+28% YoY), and swimming pool maintenance (+23% YoY).
Forgoing Inspections and Delaying Maintenance is Coming Back to Bite Homeowners
What seems to be haunting consumers the most this Halloween are the DIY fails and inspections so many skipped during the housing boom. Across the board, we’ve seen a jump in demand for repair and maintenance projects that went ignored by many who forwent inspections or ignored red flags to purchase a home. We’re seeing a spike in repair projects right now from small fixes like switch/outlet repairs (+67% YoY) which can cost $60–80 on average, emergency plumbing (+29% YoY), and duct and vent repairs (+29% YoY) to larger (and more costly) surprises like septic system repairs (+32% YoY), and circuit breaker panel repairs (+30% YoY).
And to add to the scary saga, emergencies and environmental challenges are driving home improvement plans and spending rather than desired upgrades and creating new spaces. A majority of homeowners (58%) have had an unexpected large household expense due to an emergency within the past year — and 18% have had multiple.
The most booked repair projects we’ve seen this fall are:
- Appliance repairs — $75–90 avg. cost
- Electrical wiring repairs — $150–205 avg. cost
- Central AC repairs — $50–100 avg. cost
- Plumbing pipe repairs — $150–205 avg. cost
- Sprinkler system repairs — $70–85 avg. cost
- Plumbing drain repairs — $150–205 avg. cost
- Drywall texturing and repairs — $250–390 avg. cost
- Roof repairs — $300–425 avg. cost
- Garage door repairs — $89–140 avg. cost
- Wallpaper repairs — $300–400 avg. cost
Climate Change Is Driving More Maintenance and Repair Projects
Due to the ongoing effects of climate change, natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and torrential rains have become more frequent, causing severe damage to homes and turning improvement plans and budgets into emergency repairs. According to our latest survey, 42% of homeowners have undertaken a home improvement project due to climate challenges. Since this trend is not going anywhere and will only continue to become more prevalent, we’re also seeing insurance companies adjust policies and costs to accommodate expectations of more frequent claims.
Additionally, 63% say the possibility of climate challenges or natural disasters has an impact on where they’ve chosen to live and the types of home improvement projects they would consider taking on. Because of this, major maintenance and repair projects have become increasingly necessary, including plumbing inspections (+134% YoY), water treatment system installation (+102% YoY), and generator repairs (+53% YoY).
Generator installations spiked in January this past year, and waiting until you’re without electricity to purchase a generator can be a major risk that could cause irreparable damage to your home. We recommend getting ahead of essential winter projects — like servicing your heater, checking your plumbing, and setting up your snow plow services for the season — before the weather drops below freezing.
Trendcasting: A Rise in Accessibility and Sustainability
Accessibility modifications are on the rise — and will continue to be — with home modifications for accessibility up 138% YoY and up 138% in the past 3 months. These modifications are not only essential for people with disabilities, but also for seniors looking to age in place. Considerations like ramp additions, kitchen and bathroom modifications, and smart device installations can help provide autonomy as well as peace-of-mind for loved ones.
Additionally, with 22% of homeowners planning to take on sustainable projects in the next year, we’re predicting green projects (both indoors and outdoors) will be a hot trend in 2023. We’ve seen spikes in solar panel installations (+33% YoY) and smart thermostat installations (+26% YoY) that provide a renewable source of power, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change, as well as consumers refinishing furniture (+59% over the past 3 months) and re-upholstering furniture (+39% YoY and +43% over the past 3 months) which are more sustainable options than buying new furniture and breathes fresh life into older vintage pieces.
Your Own Seasonal To-Do List
If you’re looking to tackle a home project that’s been sitting in limbo since the spring, you’re not alone: According to our findings, 46% of current homeowners report unfinished home improvement projects and 39% have unfinished home maintenance projects, but now is the time to check off those items from your to-do list. And if you’re not sure where to start this season, our free fall maintenance guide offers personalized, seasonal recommendations based on your home and location.
Download the Thumbtack app (available on Android and iOS) for a free personalized home maintenance guide specific to your home and location and start checking off projects from your to-do list.
Project Data Methodology: All data year-over-year comparison data is based on findings from September 2021 — September 2022. All pricing data is based on national average cost estimates using data provided by Thumbtack pros and additional research, real prices may vary based on city and supply.
2022 Consumer ‘Gen-pop’ Survey Methodology: This sample of 1000 U.S. adults (aged 18–65) was surveyed on September 27 and 28, 2022. Sampling was weighted to obtain gender and generational representativeness, aligned with U.S. census demographics. DKC Analytics conducted and analyzed this survey with a sample procured using the Pollfish survey delivery platform, which delivers online surveys globally through mobile apps and the mobile web along with the desktop web. No post-stratification has been applied to the results.
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