Local contractors say the holidays often generate ideas for home remodeling projects. “Large kitchen remodels are often inspired by small kitchen shortfalls,” said Evelyn Nicely of Nicely Done Kitchens. Photo courtesy of Nicely Done Kitchens
While the holidays can bring glad tidings and cheer, they can also spark an interest in remodeling, say some local contractors.
“We get more calls in January than in any other month because during the holidays people finally slow down, spend more time at home and realize all of the projects that they need to do.
—Glen Miracle, president of NVS Remodeling and Design
“During the holidays, people spend more time at home and notice more things like outdated bathrooms or kitchens,” said Glen Miracle, president of NVS Remodeling and Design in Falls Church and Manassas.
Bob Murphy, president of Homes by Murphy in Fairfax Station, said, “I find that this time of year people think about remodeling projects and then postpone them until after the holidays.”
Contractors say hosting holiday gatherings give homeowners a chance to reassess their living space. “We do have people who…realize that they will have crowds of people and family coming over and realize they need or want more space,” said Murphy.
Evelyn Nicely, president of Nicely Done Kitchens in Springfield, said, “Large kitchen remodels are often inspired by small kitchen shortfalls: the turkey won’t fit in your built-in oven or you have far too many leftovers for your too-small refrigerator,” she said. “Or maybe when you visited friends, you realized how outdated your space is, how much untapped potential is really in your home.”
HOMEOWNERS OFTEN ASSESS their home improvement needs during the holidays and embark on them in the New Year. “We get more calls in January than in any other month because during the holidays people finally slow down, spend more time at home and realize all of the projects that they need to do,” said Miracle. “Many of those projects will get started in the spring.”
A survey by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry shows that spring is a time of the year when homeowners embark on new projects. The association reports that last spring, seven out of 10 homeowners planned spring home improvement projects.
“Right now people are interested in pursuing remodeling projects in part because the election is over,” said Niki Golden, NARI spokesperson. “People do start thinking about remodeling projects, but I don’t know that at a national level, it is tied to the holidays.”