Updated:
1.12.2025
W
e all have a bit of that nosy-neighbour curiosity when it comes to home improvement. Afterall, any upgrades in your neighbourhood affect the relative value of your own home, so it’s only natural to wonder what they’re getting done.
More than that, we also love knowing the details. When it comes to renovations, we’re curious about budgets and timelines, which tradies they hired, paint colours, decking materials — anything really, so that you can start your project with a bit more confidence.
Our Projects Stories go into this kind of detail (more on that later), and to close out the year, we’re bringing you the top home improvement trends as seen on Builderscrack in 2025.
Here’s what your fellow neighbours have been up to this year, based on data from 100,000 job posts nationwide.
Because we’re all a bit curious about what’s happening next door…
1. Fixing stuff came first
2025 was the year of “right, let’s finally sort that”. Across the country, homeowners jumped back into repairs that had been ignored, delayed, or DIYed one too many times.
The words “repair” and “replace” commonly appeared in job descriptions, reflecting a continued focus on keeping everything ticking along without the price tag of “new”.
It’s not glamorous work that you’d brag to your neighbour about, but it is necessary. People were keeping their homes in good working order and squeezing more life out of the things they already had.
What’s been happening on your side of the fence?
2. Light renos over full makeovers
For those that had a big project on the cards this year, instead of fully gutting kitchens and bathrooms, they went for smart, selective improvements to ensure that the top priorities were taken care of first.
We saw a focus on:
Another trend was phased, DIY-style project management. If homeowners were taking on a bigger project, homeowners spaced out their renos in stages to spread out costs, line up subtrades and avoid blowing the budget.
Project Story: How a Dream Team Made This Family’s Dream Bathroom a Reality
3. Weatherproofing became necessary
Wild weather once again had the country on its toes. Many homeowners mentioned damage was caused by “wind” or “storms”. Roofing jobs were top priority, specifically roof repairs and replacements.
We also saw:
Homeowners used the words “leaking”, “gutter” and “ceiling” in thousands of job descriptions, showing that water damage remains a constant challenge.
A simple repair job that makes the whole house happier.
4. Electrical upgrades to modernise homes
Electrical work stayed in high demand, and for good reason: most of our homes weren’t built with modern appliances, lighting or layouts in mind. A lot of the electrical work followed on from larger renovations like kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovations, wall removals, repainting and extensions.
We also saw:
5. A fresh coat still goes the longest way
Painting and decorating stayed in the top tier of homeowner jobs, for both the interior and the exterior.
This year’s biggest paint jobs included:
And, wallpaper is officially making a quiet comeback. A feature wall in a bathroom or living room was one of the fastest ways Kiwis injected personality without diving into a big reno.
Project Story: This Classic Kiwi Home Gets A Fresh Lick Of Paint
Thinking about your own projects for 2026? Here’s what to do next
If this year’s trends sparked a few ideas (or reminded you of that job you’ve definitely ignored), here are some handy starting points:
1. Use our Cost Estimator tools
Get a ballpark idea of what your project might cost before you connect with a tradie. It’s a great starting point for comparing options. When you do connect with a tradie, the price will depend on other things like types of materials, quality of finish and even down to how many tradies are needed to do the job.
2. Start with the essentials
Repairs, weatherproofing and electrical upgrades were the big national priorities, and they’re good places to start if you’re not sure what to tackle first. If you’re looking for a spruce-up instead, make sure you read some of our Project Stories that go into all the details.
3. Connect with a tradie early
Most 2026 projects will have started with a connection in 2025, especially for the larger renos. Posting a job now means you can:
- Lock your job in with a reputable tradie
- Break your project into smaller, more manageable phases
- Avoid the summer rush we typically see in Jan – it’s usually our busiest month.
Whatever you tackled this year, here’s to a home that feels a little better for it.
The bottom line
2025 was about practical improvements, clever upgrades, and making the most of what we’ve got.
So if you’re planning something for 2026, whether it’s a fresh coat, a new deck, or finally fixing that leak, you’re in great company.
Jump onto Builderscrack when you’re ready, and we’ll help you get it sorted.
