Home Remodeling in On the Rise

Home Remodeling Demand Hits Record Levels—but Nearly 70 Percent of Homeowners Still Doubt Their Contractor

May 2026 – Homeowner spending on remodeling is on pace to surpass half a trillion dollars by the end of 2026, yet a growing body of industry research suggests that many homeowners are delaying projects—not because they lack the budget or the desire, but because they don’t trust the process.

Recent national surveys of homeowners have consistently found that roughly seven in ten worry about contractor reliability, and more than four in ten report having been misled by a service provider at some point. The most common complaints are incomplete work, unreliable scheduling, and poor communication—issues that compound over the weeks and months a remodeling project typically requires.

That gap between willingness to renovate and confidence in the experience has become one of the industry’s defining challenges heading into peak remodeling season.

Aging Homes Are Driving Functional Renovations

Much of today’s remodeling demand is structural rather than cosmetic. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the median age of an owner-occupied home in the United States has climbed to 41 years, up from 31 years in 2005. Nearly half of all owner-occupied homes were built before 1980.

These homes are reaching the stage where major systems—plumbing, electrical, layout efficiency—require updates driven by function rather than style. Bathrooms, kitchens, and whole-home remodels consistently rank as the most common project types undertaken by professional remodelers, according to NAHB data.

The 2026 Houzz & Home Study, which surveyed more than 20,000 homeowners, found that more than half renovated in 2025 and that the median spend on primary bathroom remodels rose to $15,000, up from $13,000 the previous year. Fifty percent of homeowners plan to renovate again in 2026.

The Process Has Become the Product

For homeowners weighing a remodeling decision, the contractor experience has become as important as the finished result. Industry surveys consistently identify late arrivals, unclear pricing, and a lack of updates during the project as the leading sources of homeowner frustration—outranking cost alone as a reason for dissatisfaction.

“What we hear most often from homeowners has nothing to do with their vision for the space,” said Sam Tidwell, owner at Good Morning Remodel. “It’s about whether the process will match what was discussed at the beginning—and whether that consistency holds from the first conversation through the final walkthrough.”

Homeowners report feeling the most doubt about their chosen professional during cost discussions, at project completion, and during assessment of the final product—moments when communication gaps have the greatest impact.

Budget Overruns Reinforce the Pattern

Financial unpredictability compounds the trust problem. The Houzz study found that 37 percent of renovating homeowners exceeded their set budgets in 2025, slightly more than the 35 percent who stayed on target. Among those who went over, 52 percent cited higher-than-expected costs for products or services—underscoring the demand for transparent pricing from the outset.

“Homeowners aren’t just evaluating what gets built—they’re evaluating how it’s managed,” Sam added. “Clarity around pricing, timelines, and who is responsible at each stage has become just as important as design.”

What This Means for the Industry

The remodeling sector continues to expand. NAHB reports that the number of remodeling firms nearly doubled over the past 25 years, and residential remodeling activity is expected to grow again in 2026 and 2027. But more contractors entering the market also means more variation in the homeowner experience.

For homeowners navigating this landscape, understanding what to expect when working with a home remodeling contractor has become a critical step in moving from research to action.

As summer approaches—a season when families often want projects completed before routines shift—the tension between strong demand and lingering doubt is becoming more visible. The companies positioned to capture that demand may not be the ones with the largest marketing budgets. They may be the ones that close the gap between what homeowners are promised and what they experience.

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About Good Morning Remodel

Good Morning Remodel is a home remodeling contractor specializing in bathrooms, additions, enclosures, and decks. The company focuses on delivering a consistent, transparent experience from the first conversation through final walkthrough, with each project managed directly and built to last.

Contact Information:

Good Morning Remodel

283 Swanson Dr
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
United States

Sam Tidwell
(470) 880-3118
https://gmr-atl.com/