PRNewswire
MOORESVILLE, N.C.
(:LOW)
-- More People Pairing with the Pros to Tackle Projects at Home --
MOORESVILLE, N.C., April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Do-It-Yourself (DIY) is enjoying resurgence in the tight economy, but not only for the reasons one might expect. While consumers are saving money on their home improvement projects, homeowners tell us they're doing it themselves because they like it.
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Eight out of every 10 homeowners planning a lawn or garden project in the next 12 months say they'll roll up their sleeves, break out their gardening trowels and tackle the project themselves. According to a consumer survey conducted by Lowe's in March, more than 500 homeowners revealed projects they're planning over the next 12 months and what motivated the process.
For 84% of respondents, lawn and gardening projects are the Number One DIY project. A close second is interior painting (82%), followed by exterior painting (65%), installing a new floor (56%) and remodeling or adding a new bathroom (55%).
Is money alone driving do-it-yourselfers to do more? Not necessarily. The homeowners Lowe's surveyed are almost evenly split between saving money and doing a project for enjoyment. Approximately 32% of DIY-ers cite "pleasure" as the reason they're planning a project, while 35% say it's to save on total project costs.
"Purchasing a home is one of the largest single investments a person will make during his or her lifetime. In good times and bad, homeowners remain committed to preserving their investment by maintaining and improving their homes," said Larry Stone, Lowe's president and chief operating officer. "While time constraints encouraged many people to say 'do it for me' in recent years, perhaps the silver lining of the current economy is that homeowners can save while they rediscover the fun of doing projects themselves."
Lawn and garden enthusiasts say few things in a home landscape generate as much pride or pleasure as having the greenest lawn in the neighborhood or being the first on the block to pluck a homegrown tomato from the vine. In other words, they really "dig" dirt. In fact, 80% of consumers mowed their own lawns in the past and plan to keep doing so.
The survey found an increasing number of homeowners are doing portions of a project themselves and hiring a professional to do the rest. For instance, in the next 12 months, approximately 37% of homeowners surveyed who plan to remodel their kitchen say will do part themselves and hire a pro for the rest.
Homeowners said hiring a professional for work such as cabinet installation allows them to do only the parts of the project they enjoy, like interior painting or installing flooring.
The DIY-ers in Lowe's survey say they have their limits. When it comes to installing a new roof or new carpeting, they say it's still easier and more cost effective to hire a pro that has the specialized tools and skills necessary to do the job.
Whether the DIY driving force is saving money or personal pride in a job well done, Lowe's makes it easy to tackle do-it-yourself projects of all kinds. Check out www.lowes.com/videos for step-by-step instructions on more than 100 of the most popular DIY projects. Get inspired to tackle your own do-it-yourself project by visiting www.lowescreativeideas.com for ideas and articles on more than 500 projects. Plus DIY-ers can upload and share photos of projects they've undertaken.
For homeowners who don't have the tools or skills to tackle a project, Lowe's offers installation services for more than 40 home improvement projects.
ABOUT LOWE'S
With fiscal year 2008 sales of $48.2 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,650 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.
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SOURCE: Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Web site: http://www.lowes.com/
