What is a Joy Score?

A home remodeling ‘Joy Score’ is a calculated analysis of a homeowner’s happiness based on their renovation results. The calculations also take into account the dollar value each project adds onto the house at resale.

(This data was collected between 2021-2022 by the National Association of REALTORS® Research Group.)

In this article, we will cover:

• The reasons a homeowner remodels.
• The outcome of taking on a project.
• The amount of happiness found in the home once a project is completed.

We will also take a deeper dive into:

• The typical cost of remodeling, as estimated by members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), since the Covid-19 pandemic.
• How much appeal each project is likely to have for buyers, according to REALTORS®.
• How much REALTORS® estimate that homeowners can recover on the cost of the projects if they sell the home.

“A study conducted in 2021 by ‘Improving America’s Housing’, Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, stated that Americans spent over $420 billion on home remodeling projects in 2020”

Who does the work:

35% of homeowners hire a professional to do the whole job

28% hired the labor but purchased the materials

22% did the entire project themselves

13% contributed some do-it-yourself (DIY) labor

Research found among NARI members:

90% found a greater demand in contracting in remodeling work during the COVID-19 pandemic

60% cited the scale of the projects increased either in a larger project or remodeling more than one room due to the pandemic

83% cited that homeowners would have remodeled regardless of the pandemic

86% of homeowners reported that remodeling one area of their home made them want to then remodel other areas of their home

Why do homeowners want to remodel:

30% want to upgrade worn-out surfaces, finishes, and materials

20% want to add features and improve livability

16% do it because it is time for a change

How do homeowners feel about the overall result:

57% say they would tackle the project the same way

35% say they would make a few different choices such as finishes or materials

How do homeowners feel about their home after a remodel:

84% of homeowners have a greater desire to be in their home

69% have increased enjoyment in their home

57% feel happy

39% feel satisfied when they see their completed project

69% feel a major sense of accomplishment when they think of their completed project

Homeowners report the single-most important result from remodeling is:

35% better functionality and livability

22% durable and long-lasting results

14% beauty and aesthetics

After a remodeling project has been completed, a typical homeowners Joy score is: 9.6 out of 10

Let’s break the joy rating down a little further by using the top 4 renovation projects in a home: Kitchen, Guest Bathroom, Home Office and Laundry Room.

Complete Kitchen Remodel:

43% of homeowners believe the most important result after a complete kitchen renovation is better functionality and livability

94% have a greater desire to be home since completing the project

86% have an increased sense of enjoyment when they are at home

85% feel a major sense of accomplishment when they think of the project

The top 2 reasons a homeowner would want to remodel their kitchen:

25% to add features and improve livability

25% to upgrade worn out surfaces, finishes, and materials

Cost Recovery:

The estimated cost for a typical NARI kitchen remodel is $80,000

REALTORS®’ estimated cost recovered is roughly $60,000

The value recovered from the project is typically around 75%

Pandemic Influence:

87% of consumers would have undertaken the project, regardless of the pandemic

25% of REALTORS® reported increased demand for remodeling during the pandemic

Joy Score for a complete Kitchen Remodel: 9.8

Complete Guest Bathroom Remodel:

46% of homeowners believe the most important result after a complete guest bathroom renovation is better functionality and livability

73% have a greater desire to be home since completing the project

61% have an increased sense of enjoyment when they are at home

64% feel a major sense of accomplishment when they think of the project

The top 2 reasons a homeowner would want to remodel their bathroom:

15% to add features and improve livability

43% to upgrade worn out surfaces, finishes, and materials

Cost Recovery:

The estimated cost for a typical NARI guest bathroom remodel is $35,000

REALTORS®’ estimated cost recovered is roughly $25,000

The value recovered from the project is typically around 71%

Pandemic Influence:

84% of consumers would have undertaken the project, regardless of the pandemic

19% of REALTORS® reported increased demand for remodeling during the pandemic

Joy Score for a complete Guest Bathroom Remodel: 9.6

Complete Home Office Remodel:

54% of homeowners believe the most important result after adding a home office is better functionality and livability

91% have a greater desire to be home since completing the project

73% have an increased sense of enjoyment when they are at home

55% feel a major sense of accomplishment when they think of the project

The top 2 reasons a homeowner would want to remodel their home office:

33% to add features and improve livability

25% to improve organization and storage or just moved into home and wanted to customize to personal taste

Pandemic Influence:

50% of consumers would have undertaken the project, regardless of the pandemic

40% of REALTORS® reported increased demand for remodeling during the pandemic

Joy Score for a complete Home Office Remodel: 10

Add/ Upgrade Laundry Area:

60% of homeowners believe the most important result after adding or upgrading a laundry area is better functionality and livability

84% have a greater desire to be home since completing the project

68% have an increased sense of enjoyment when they are at home

79% feel a major sense of accomplishment when they think of the project

The top 2 reasons a homeowner would want to remodel their laundry area:

40% to add features and improve livability

20% just moved into home and wanted to customize to personal taste

Pandemic Influence:

68% of consumers would have undertaken the project, regardless of the pandemic

4% of REALTORS® reported increased demand for remodeling during the pandemic

Joy Score to add or upgrade a Laundry Area: 9.5

Sources & Methodology:

These surveys were taken by homeowners who have just completed a home remodeling project. The companies involved in collecting the data were: HouseLogic.com, The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), and The National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

About NARI…

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry, or NARI, provides residential remodelers with tools that enable them to perform at a higher level. NARI members’ annual sales are nearly three times the industry average because of the knowledge, networking and support that they receive as members. In addition, NARI connects homeowners with its professional members, so consumers have a positive remodeling experience with a professional, qualified remodeler. NARI members pledge to follow the nation’s strictest code of ethics for remodelers so homeowners can feel confident that their remodeling job will be done right when they hire a NARI member.

About NAR…

The National Association of REALTORS® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than1.6 million members, including NAR’s institutes, societies and councils, involved in all aspects of the real estate industry. NAR membership includes brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors and others engaged in both residential and commercial real estate.

To learn more about the quality of Sea Pointe Design & Remodel’s work, browse through our online portfolio of completed projects or visit our kitchen and bath showroom in Irvine.

When you are ready to start planning your own home remodel, simply give us a call at (949) 861-3400 or fill out the form below to schedule your complimentary design consultation.

Choosing the right cabinets for your remodeling project is vital as they can influence the entire outlook of your home. It is important to consider not only the style, but also the quality of their construction. With so many options to choose from, it can truly become overwhelming to select just one.

When choosing brand-new cabinets for your home remodeling project, there are generally 3 types of cabinets to choose from: stock cabinetry, semi-custom cabinetry and fully custom cabinetry. Below is a breakdown of the different types of cabinetries available and a description of what those terms actually mean.

Builder Grade, Ready-To-Assemble (RTA), and Stock Cabinets are of the same class of cabinetry; they are typically the most affordable and have the quickest turn-around time.

Builder grade: Most newly built homes have what are called ‘Builder Grade’ materials installed in their bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, and closets.  Builder-grade products are usually made from inexpensive materials, such as particleboard or a cheaper plywood and are easily damaged from regular use and natural elements. These products are more of a short-term solution and should be expected to last for roughly 5 years before they are dated.

Ready-to-assemble: These cabinets are of the same quality home developers use, ‘Builder grade”, and are readily available to the public to be purchased from chain home stores. The selections in style, size and material, however, are usually limited. If you are looking for more of a do-it-yourself home improvement project, you can save a considerable amount of money on this type of cabinetry. However, keep in mind that these do not have long-term durability and usually need to be replaced or refurbished within 5-7 years.

Stock Cabinets: In sum, Builder Grade, Ready-To-Assemble (RTA), or Stock Cabinets come pre-sized from their manufacturer and are considered the basic and economical choice. These cabinets are mass-produced, only available in fixed sizes, and cannot be altered, so they do not offer much versatility for existing spaces. Depending on the manufacturer, stock cabinets can be made from particle board covered with plastic laminates or solid wood and are constructed on site. They can make a great choice for the DIY’er but we wouldn’t consider these cabinets a long term option.

Semi-Custom: Semi-custom cabinets generally fall into the mid-range category in terms of pricing. They offer a much wider selection of styles and higher quality materials than your standard stock cabinets. They can allow for customizable options like depth of the cabinets, drawer and door style, size adjustments and can also provide a better quality of construction. They do, however, take longer to receive than stock cabinets and can make your projects take longer to complete. Semi-custom cabinets are typically pricier as well, but usually include installation. Some companies, like Sea Pointe Design & Remodel, offer lifetime warranties on their semi-custom cabinetry because they hire skilled artisan craftsmen and carry close relationships with their manufacturers.

Fully Custom: Offering the most versatility in styles, materials, finishes and accessories, custom cabinets are made-to-order. You have total control over every detail of your tailor-made cabinets to fit the dimensions of your space. Custom built cabinets allow flexibility in the design to fit oddly shaped corners or runs along the walls. Custom cabinet lead times are the longest, as hand-made craftsmanship can take anywhere between 10-14 weeks to complete. Custom cabinets can also become quite costly with each added detail and can quickly exhaust a budget if not monitored properly. It is recommended to go through a reputable company, such as Sea Pointe Design & Remodel, who can provide impressive hand-built construction from skilled artisans including a well-planned design.

Other questions you may be thinking:

What kind of cabinets last the longest?

The most durable kitchen cabinets are made from solid hardwood. The most popular choices are cherry and maple. They are the most costly woods and only come in semi-custom and custom installations, but they last a long time and look great doing it. As far as stock cabinets go, plywood is stronger and holds screws tightly whereas particle board tends to crumble when attaching hardware. Particle board also holds moisture and can rot over time.

Why should I choose Custom cabinets over Stock cabinets?

It is true that quality comes at a higher price but splurging a little more on quality cabinets is an investment into your home upgrade. Choosing low-quality alternatives don’t look as nice and won’t last as long and you will wind up replacing your cabinets more often, which will ultimately cost more.

When is the best time of year to remodel?

The best time to remodel is now. If you are contemplating whether to start the process before the holidays or to hold off until the new year, odds are others are thinking the same. With Sea Pointe, the earlier you begin your design process, the better! This way, we can fit you onto our Construction schedule sooner. You do not want to get caught in the holiday “New Year, New House” rush.

To learn more about the quality of our work, browse through our online portfolio of completed projects or visit our Irvine kitchen and bath showroom.

Then, when you’re ready to start planning your own kitchen remodel, simply give us a call at (949) 861-3400 or fill out the form below to schedule your complimentary design consultation.