Mar. 6—LIMA — With myriad financial questions surrounding the lingering coronavirus pandemic, it would be reasonable to assume homeowners have been keeping their spending habits close to the vest, holding off on home improvement projects until a degree of predictability could be detected in the unsteady employment market.
Industry experts, however, say just the opposite has proven true.
From July through September of last year Porch.com tracked 330 million U.S. Google searches for home improvement work — up almost 50% from the same period the previous year.
A Consumer Specialists survey of more than 600 homeowners conducted in June 2020 revealed that 57 percent of homeowners did a home improvement project from March to May as the pandemic was gripping the country. On average, those homeowners spent $1,750 making home improvements.
One Allen County company has found that to be the case as well.
“When people are stuck at home staring at their four walls they begin to see certain areas that could use an upgrade,” said Dave Karras, director of marketing for KSI Kitchen and Bath. “We’ve been pleasantly surprised. Despite the current economic uncertainty, sales have been strong for the past several months.”
KSI, a regional home design and remodeling firm with a showroom at 3035 Elida Road in Lima, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020. The family-owned company based in Brighton, Michigan operates seven design centers: five located in Southeast Michigan as well as showrooms in…
