Home improvement has a way of staying on the mind. Maybe it’s the bathroom that’s overdue a refresh, the outdoor space you keep meaning to sort out, or that project that’s been sitting on the to-do list for years.
Whatever’s on the list, Kiwis are getting stuck in this year. We surveyed 645 homeowners from across New Zealand to find out what’s really planned for 2026: the projects, the budgets, and what matters most when it comes to choosing a tradie.
Here’s what they told us.
78% of Kiwi homeowners are planning or considering home improvement in 2026
- 47% have plans already locked in for 2026
- 31% are thinking about a project but haven’t locked it in yet
- 10% are interested in improving their home but aren’t planning work right now
- 11% say they’re done with renovations for now
Nearly 4 out of 5 Kiwi homeowners surveyed are either planning a renovation or seriously considering one this year. If you’re weighing up a project, you’re in good company; nearly half of those people already have their plans locked in, while another third are seriously considering it.
Some homeowners aren’t slowing down either. Our data shows that 1 in 9 homeowners who finished a renovation in 2025 are already planning another one in 2026.
What’s stopping Kiwis from renovating?
For the 31% still thinking about a project and the 10% who are interested but not planning just yet, the decision usually comes down to two things: sorting the budget and finding a tradie they can trust.
Money is the biggest barrier for nearly half (48%) of this group, who say finances are the reason they haven’t started planning yet. Another 16% say that finding a reliable tradie is what’s stopping them, while 13% are simply waiting for the right time or better conditions.
Even with those concerns, the motivation to improve their homes is still there. Most people are looking to fix existing damage (35%) or finally modernise a tired space (27%), the same practical drivers as those already planning projects.
The great Kiwi outdoor obsession is real
Outdoor upgrades lead the way in 2026
If there’s one thing Kiwi homeowners are focused on this year, it’s making the most of the space they already have. Landscaping and garden work tops the list for 2026, with 36% of homeowners planning a project, followed in third by deck and outdoor living areas at 32%.
Conducted in February, our survey shows that home improvements outside the house are now edging out the more traditional renovation spaces. While interior updates and bathrooms both sit at 31%, and kitchens at 29%, it’s clear that the section is a major priority right now, and spending time outdoors is becoming just as important as upgrading the inside of the home.
General repairs and maintenance also rank highly at 32%, showing a broader trend of homeowners prioritising the upkeep of their existing property over undertaking massive, structural renovations.
The trades behind the renovation
Most renovations aren’t one-off jobs. On average, a project now covers 2–3 areas of the home and involves 3–4 different tradies to get the work done. It shows homeowners aren’t just fixing one thing and moving on, they’re thinking about the whole home.
Builders or carpenters are the most in-demand trade, with 57% of homeowners needing to hire one for their project. Electricians (40%) and plumbers or gas fitters (38%) follow closely behind, showing how many renovations involve structural work as well as electrical and plumbing work.
Even those popular outdoor projects often involve more than just landscaping. From builders constructing retaining walls and pergolas to electricians installing outdoor lighting and power, these home improvements frequently require other trades as well.
Finishing trades are also seeing high demand, with 30% of respondents planning to hire a painter, alongside plasterers (19%), flooring specialists (18%) and tilers (18%). Though not everyone is calling in the professionals for everything. 22% of homeowners say they plan to tackle at least some of the work themselves.
Regional trends: How Kiwis are renovating
While outdoor projects are popular nationwide, each region shows slightly different renovation priorities.
- Aucklanders are leading the way with landscaping and garden upgrades, followed by exterior work and repairs & maintenance
- In Canterbury, landscaping is also a major focus, alongside repairs & maintenance. Kitchen projects are the next most common renovation
- In Wellington, priorities are more evenly split between bathrooms, decks, and outdoor living areas
Let’s talk renovation budgets
How much are Kiwis spending on home renovations?
The average planned spend we’re seeing for 2026 is around $27,000 per project.
With nearly 70% of homeowners looking at projects under the $35,000 mark, it reinforces the idea that most are focusing on high-impact, targeted work, a sign that Kiwis are being deliberate about where their money goes.
How are Kiwis paying for renovations?
For most homeowners, renovations are being funded without taking on new debt.
Almost 8 in 10 renovation projects are being funded from savings rather than borrowing. It suggests many homeowners are planning ahead and setting money aside before getting started.
Where are Kiwis spending their renovation budget?
Under $10,000: These budgets are mostly focused on maintenance & repairs, followed by landscaping or garden work. Bathrooms and kitchens are also popular areas for improvement, along with deck or outdoor living areas and interior updates. These are the projects that keep homes functioning well without major disruption.
$10,000-$35,000: This is the most common renovation range and often represents one large project or a few smaller upgrades. Both landscaping & gardens and deck & outdoor living areas were the most popular, followed by bathrooms, exterior work, kitchens and repairs & maintenance.
$35,000+: Here, the most common areas of work are high-value indoor projects; kitchens, interior updates such as bedrooms & living areas and bathrooms. The next most common are exterior work, deck & outdoor living and extensions.
Tools up, not down: When are Kiwis starting their renovations?
Once Kiwi homeowners decide to renovate, our data shows they don’t sit on those plans for long.
Surveyed in February, the breakdown was:
- 28% have already started their reno
- Another 14% are kicking off within the next few weeks
- A further 31% will be starting within 1 to 3 months
- 16% starting in 4-6 months
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of surveyed homeowners are starting their projects within the next three months. When you add the 16% planning to start in the 4–6 month window, it’s clear that for the vast majority of people, renovations are happening sooner rather than later. Only a small 11% are waiting until the back half of 2026 to get underway.
The real reason Kiwis renovate
As the saying goes, home is where the heart is, and our data backs that up. It turns out most homeowners aren’t just renovating to sell. They’re doing it to make life at home better.
The maintenance renos: Nearly a third (32%) of respondents are focused on the “must-dos,” the essential repairs and maintenance that need doing.
The lifestyle shift: Those renovating to make their home feel nicer to live in, or, to refresh a space that’s started to feel a bit outdated make up nearly 40%.
What’s taking a backseat?
Interestingly, some of the things that usually dominate the renovation conversation, like adding resale value (10%), changing family needs (3%), or insurance-related repairs (1%), actually rank much lower in the results.
Only 1 in 10 say increasing property value or selling is their main driver. And just 2.5% are renovating because their family needs have changed (like a new baby or a home office).
Only 5% cited creating a healthier or more efficient home as their primary motivation. Given that the Healthy Homes standards have been in effect for a few years now, it’s likely many landlords have already ticked those essential boxes, letting them focus on other areas.
Trust matters more than price
Most people assume budget is the biggest worry when starting a reno. Turns out, that’s not quite the case. Once homeowners move past the “dreaming” stage and get ready to start, the focus shifts from price to trust.
Finding a tradie you can trust is the top concern for nearly a quarter of homeowners (24%) planning a renovation, coming in just ahead of staying within budget (23%). Another 18% worry about the quality of workmanship, while 17% are concerned about getting a fair price.
When you add these worries together, concerns about tradie trust and quality of workmanship make up 42% of worries, slightly higher than money-related concerns like budgets and pricing at 40%.
It’s an interesting shift, as while budget is the biggest hurdle for those still “thinking or considering,” the second a homeowner commits to a project, finding a reliable tradie becomes the number one priority.
So, how do homeowners actually find someone they feel confident hiring?
Most start with the people they already know. Half of homeowners (50%) ask friends or family for recommendations first, making word-of-mouth the most common starting point.
However, it doesn’t stop there. Another 29% turn to online platforms to check reviews, ratings, and past work. Most people use 2-3 different methods to check a tradie, often starting with a recommendation from someone they trust, then checking reviews and past jobs online before making contact.
With the average project now involving 3–4 different trades, getting this “trust check” right at the start is the most important step in the whole process.
From 4 February to 4 March 2026, we surveyed 645 people from our homeowner database about whether they were planning a project, thinking about one, or just curious about home improvement, to understand what Kiwis have planned for 2026.
Builderscrack is NZ’s largest home improvement platform. Since 2007 we’ve connected homeowners with verified tradies across 400+ categories nationwide — facilitating over 930,000 jobs and collecting 339,000+ verified reviews along the way. Built in Christchurch, for Kiwis.
