Home renovation activity is surging among Nextdoor neighbors. According to our latest Home Renovations Insights Report, 73% of neighbors expect to make improvements to their home in the next 12 months—a 12% year-over-year increase and 24% higher than homeowners overall.
This isn't just about small updates. More than 1 in 4 neighbors expect to spend over $25,000 on their renovations—17% more than the average homeowner. And they're turning to Nextdoor to guide every step of the journey, from finding trusted professionals (69%) to getting suggestions on where to shop (68%).
What's Driving the Renovation Boom
The top motivation for renovating is updating the home's style (56%), followed closely by enhancing home value (53%)—23% higher than homeowners overall. Neighbors also renovate to repair property damage (34%), gain more space (33%), and make homes more eco-friendly (32%)—43% higher than average homeowners.
Room remodels lead the pack at 76%, with kitchens (62%) and bathrooms (58%) drawing the most attention. Compared to last year, kitchen remodels are up 13% and outdoor space projects are up 10%.
Beyond interior work, neighbors are investing in home system upgrades (46%), exterior improvements (49%), landscaping (46%), outdoor upgrades (44%), and additions (34%). Compared to last year, remodeling plans overall are up 21% and landscaping projects are up 10%.
When Neighbors Are Ready to Start
Spring is the primary renovation season, with 33% of projects expected to begin then. But fall is gaining momentum fast—up 55% year-over-year—now accounting for 31% of planned starts. Winter (23%) and summer (8%) round out the calendar.
The trigger for getting started? Financial readiness tops the list at 54%, followed by seeing inspiration online (45%), seasonal timing like good weather (42%), and retailer sales or promotions (29%)—54% higher than homeowners overall.
Once they're ready to move, neighbors are 32% more likely to do the majority of their shopping online compared to average homeowners, with 18% planning to shop entirely online and 16% mostly online.
The Biggest Concerns—and How Neighbors Plan to Address Them
Despite high intent and significant planned spend, neighbors share common concerns. Staying on budget is the top worry at 58%, followed by finding the right service providers (49%), dealing with noise and mess (44%), staying on schedule (41%)—21% higher than average—and finding the right tools and supplies (32%)—19% higher than average.
To fund these projects, savings are the primary source for 71% of neighbors, followed by home equity loans (27%) and tax refunds (25%). Nearly half of neighbors planning big-ticket renovations are very likely to open a new credit card leading up to their project—29% more than homeowners overall.
The DIY Mindset Is Strong
Here's a key insight for brands: neighbors are 25% more likely than average homeowners to complete renovation projects on their own. In fact, 35% plan to do the work entirely by themselves, 17% with help from family or friends, 21% with help from a professional, and 28% entirely by a professional.
What's driving the DIY approach? Cost savings (56%), belief they'll do just as good a job or better (53%), sense of accomplishment (52%), and the expectation that they'll complete the project faster (45%).
Notably, men are 84% more likely, parents are 21% more likely, and those in rural areas are 16% more likely to take on renovation projects independently when controlling for other factors like age, income, and region.
Nearly half of DIY renovators will rely on social media to gain the knowledge and skills required to complete their projects—30% higher than homeowners overall.
Where Neighbors Will Shop—and What Matters Most
When it comes to purchasing tools and supplies, neighbors prioritize price (91%) and product selection (93%) above all else. Other important factors include delivery and shipping options (83%), in-store customer support (82%), proximity to home (80%), and loyalty program benefits (69%).
Neighbors are 13% more likely to value loyalty programs and 12% more likely to prioritize delivery options compared to homeowners overall.
The most popular retailers for tools and supplies are The Home Depot, Lowe's, Amazon, Walmart, Ace Hardware, and Target. For furniture and home decor, neighbors turn primarily to Amazon, Walmart, Target, HomeGoods, Wayfair, and Ashley.
For Those Hiring Professionals
Among the 49% of neighbors who will hire help, construction professionals (64%) are the most sought-after, followed by specialty service providers like electricians and plumbers (51%)—16% more likely than homeowners overall—and design-related professionals (26%).
A professional's portfolio is the most influential hiring factor (76%), followed by cost of services (71%), online reviews (56%), estimated completion time (56%), and availability to start the job (47%).
Nextdoor Is Where Renovation Plans Become Action
Renovation-related mentions on Nextdoor are up 17% year-over-year. The top topics neighbors discuss include service promotions (36%), contractor advice and referrals (24%), licensing and safety warnings (13%), project planning tips (10%), and quality of work (8%).
These conversations peak early in the year, with the highest activity from January through March. Geographically, East Coast states show the highest relative frequency of renovation discussions.
What This Means for Home Improvement Brands
This research reveals significant opportunities to reach high-intent homeowners on Nextdoor:
Activate early in seasonal peaks: Spring leads renovation starts, but fall is surging. Campaigns should launch ahead of these windows to capture neighbors during the planning phase.
Speak to budget concerns and financial readiness: With staying on budget as the top concern and financial readiness as the key trigger, messaging should emphasize value, savings, promotions, and financing options.
Empower the DIY audience: Neighbors are confident DIYers motivated by cost savings and accomplishment. Brands should position products and tools as enabling success while also offering professional services for more complex work.
Highlight trust and quality: Whether neighbors are hiring pros or shopping for supplies, they prioritize proven quality. Showcase portfolios, customer reviews, licensing, and past work to build credibility.
Make shopping easy: With neighbors 32% more likely to shop online and prioritizing product selection and delivery options, brands should emphasize e-commerce capabilities, inventory breadth, and convenient fulfillment.
Why Nextdoor Matters for Home Improvement Marketing
Nextdoor provides unique access to homeowners at the exact moment they're planning renovations, seeking recommendations, and making purchase decisions. With 73% of neighbors planning projects in the next year—up 12% from last year—and spending 17% more than average homeowners, this is a premium, high-intent audience.
Want to explore the complete findings? This summary highlights key insights from our research, but there's much more to discover. For the full report with detailed data, additional audience segments, and strategic recommendations for your campaigns, reach out to Jacob Chavis, Customer Analytics & Insights Manager, at
jchavis@nextdoor.com. Our team can help you apply these insights to reach high-intent neighbors at the moments that matter most.
Methodology: Figures in this report are drawn from a Nextdoor survey of 1,500 U.S. adults, fielded September 12-13, 2025, and Nextdoor internal platform data from January-August 2025.
