Home projects that make daily life better

A 2025 national survey asked homeowners who had just finished a remodel a different question: how they felt about the finished work. Each project got a score from 1 to 10, by the share of owners who said they were happy or satisfied with it.

What homeowners were happiest with

The typical score was 8.2. Three projects scored a perfect 10: an added primary bedroom suite, a kitchen upgrade and new roofing.

A bathroom renovation scored 9.8 and a complete kitchen renovation 9.7. Painting one interior room scored 9.3, and new wood flooring 9.1. A new garage door scored lowest, at 7, and new siding scored 7.3.

Painting is one of the projects owners most often do themselves, and one painted room scored higher than new siding.

What owners said changed

The most common answer to what mattered most was better functionality and livability, at 28 percent. Durable results and beauty followed, at 23 percent each. Only 4 percent named resale as the most important result.

After the work, 64 percent said they had a greater desire to be in their home, and 46 percent said they enjoyed it more. More than half, 55 percent, felt a major sense of accomplishment. Asked whether they would do the project the same way again, 46 percent said yes, and 31 percent would make a few different choices of finishes or materials.

Why and how owners remodeled

The most common reason was to upgrade worn-out surfaces, finishes and materials, at 27 percent. Improving energy efficiency came next at 19 percent, then "time for a change" and a sale within two years, at 18 percent each.

Owners split on who did the work. 29 percent hired a professional for the whole job, 24 percent hired the labor and bought the materials, and 24 percent did everything themselves. The rest did part of the labor. On timing, 37 percent finished when they planned, 31 percent took longer and 31 percent finished early.

An annotated example

What to do next

Walk the house and write down each moment a room gets in your way, such as a door that sticks, a dark hallway or a bathroom two people need at 7 a.m. Note how often each one happens, and add the list to your wishlist.