{"id":16209,"date":"2023-05-09T13:45:43","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T13:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=16209"},"modified":"2023-06-19T17:00:51","modified_gmt":"2023-06-19T17:00:51","slug":"best-cities-home-improvement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-cities-home-improvement\/","title":{"rendered":"2023\u2019s Best Cities for Tackling Home Improvements"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where can a home renovation or remodeling project cause less of a headache?<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To mark May as National Home Improvement Month, <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/\">Lawn Love<\/a> ranked 2023&#8217;s Best Cities for Tackling Home Improvements.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on three categories. We looked at the average age of homes, access to designers and contractors, and average costs, among 32 total metrics.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Explore our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/most-expensive-cities-home-improvement\/#methodology\">methodology<\/a>.<\/p>    <h2 id=\"in-this-article\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">In this article<\/h2>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"#rankings\">City rankings + infographic<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#top-5\">Top 5 close up<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#key-insights\">Key insights<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#ask-the-experts\">Expert take<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#methodology\">Behind the ranking<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#final-thoughts\">Invest in your landscape<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rankings\"><span id=\"city-rankings-infographic\">City rankings + infographic<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See how each city fared in our ranking:<\/p>   <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"4513a39b-70e7-4c28-9325-780e3bd22736\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Ranking Table - 2023&amp;#39;s Best Cities for Tackling Home Improvements\"><\/div> <p><script>!function(e,i,n,s){var t=\"InfogramEmbeds\",d=e.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0];if(window[t]&&window[t].initialized)window[t].process&&window[t].process();else if(!e.getElementById(n)){var o=e.createElement(\"script\");o.async=1,o.id=n,o.src=\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\",d.parentNode.insertBefore(o,d)}}(document,0,\"infogram-async\");<\/script><\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1917\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Tackling-Home-Improvements-Infographic1-1.png\" alt=\"Infographic showing the Best Cities for Tackling Home Improvements, a ranking based on access to construction suppliers, average age of homes, the number of residential remodeling contractors, and more\" class=\"wp-image-16219\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Tackling-Home-Improvements-Infographic1-1.png 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Tackling-Home-Improvements-Infographic1-1-125x300.png 125w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Tackling-Home-Improvements-Infographic1-1-427x1024.png 427w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Tackling-Home-Improvements-Infographic1-1-768x1840.png 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Tackling-Home-Improvements-Infographic1-1-641x1536.png 641w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Tackling-Home-Improvements-Infographic1-1-610x1462.png 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Note: <\/em><\/strong><em>For presentation purposes, not all ties may be displayed for some metrics above.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top-5\"><span id=\"top-5-close-up\">Top 5 close up<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check out the slideshow below for highlights and lowlights on each of our top five cities.<\/p>   <div style=\"min-height: 535px\" class=\"ub_image_slider swiper-container wp-block-ub-image-slider\" id=\"ub_image_slider_d156c4a9-e1f6-4a76-8418-5fb07433e4e4\" data-swiper-data='{\"speed\":300,\"spaceBetween\":20,\"slidesPerView\":1,\"loop\":true,\"pagination\":{\"el\": \".swiper-pagination\" , \"type\": \"bullets\", \"clickable\":true},\"navigation\": {\"nextEl\": \".swiper-button-next\", \"prevEl\": \".swiper-button-prev\"}, \"keyboard\": { \"enabled\": true }, \"effect\": \"slide\",\"simulateTouch\":false}'>             <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MIAMI111.jpg\" alt=\"Skyscrapers stand tall in contrast against the blue sky and ocean in Miami.\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 1: <\/strong>Miami | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>55.31<br><br><strong>Builder and Supplier Access: <\/strong>1<br><strong>Designer and Engineer Access: <\/strong>54<br><strong>Costs and Cost Inflators: <\/strong>48<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/tall-buildings-in-the-city-4118101\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tory Brown<\/a> | Pexels | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Vancouver-WA-1.jpg\" alt=\"The sun sets over a bridge and the Vancouver waterfront.\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 2: <\/strong>Vancouver, Washington | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>49.90<br><br><strong>Builder and Supplier Access: <\/strong>2<br><strong>Designer and Engineer Access: <\/strong>39<br><strong>Costs and Cost Inflators: <\/strong>124<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/YjBVFQ38rJ4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dave Herring<\/a> | Unsplash | <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/license\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Unsplash License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Alexandria-VA-1.jpg\" alt=\"A stately building is surrounded by fall foliage as golden hour emerges in Alexandria.\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 3: <\/strong>Alexandria, Virginia | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>46.54<br><br><strong>Builder and Supplier Access: <\/strong>6<br><strong>Designer and Engineer Access: <\/strong>20<br><strong>Costs and Cost Inflators: <\/strong>24<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Alexandria_%26_GW_Masonic_Memorial_Fall_2015.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ALXCHO<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Jersey-City-NJ-1.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of the skyscrapers and townhomes that make up Jersey City and its waterfront on an overcast day\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 4: <\/strong>Jersey City, New Jersey | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>43.85<br><br><strong>Builder and Supplier Access: <\/strong>41<br><strong>Designer and Engineer Access: <\/strong>1<br><strong>Costs and Cost Inflators: <\/strong>66<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Jersey_City_from_a_helicopter.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">David Jones<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Aurora-IL-1.jpg\" alt=\"A waterway runs under a bridge near red brick buildings in Aurora on a bright blue day.\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 5:<\/strong> Aurora, Illinois | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>43.37<br><br><strong>Builder and Supplier Access: <\/strong>8<br><strong>Designer and Engineer Access: <\/strong>12<br><strong>Costs and Cost Inflators: <\/strong>86<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/flickr.com\/photos\/dougtone\/7170106074\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Doug Kerr<\/a> | Flickr | <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><\/div>             <div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>             <div class=\"swiper-button-prev\"><\/div> <div class=\"swiper-button-next\"><\/div>         <\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"key-insights\">Key insights<\/h2>    <h3 id=\"the-gist\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gist<\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plenty of resources are available for Florida homeowners planning home improvement projects, especially for repairs from \u2014 or increased <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2022\/10\/05\/1126900340\/florida-community-designed-weather-hurricane-ian-babcock-ranch-solar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">resistance<\/a> against \u2014 the annual hurricane season. Ten out of 13 Florida cities place in the top half of our ranking, with three \u2014 Miami (No. 1), Orlando (No. 8), and Fort Lauderdale (No. 10) \u2014 finishing in the top 10.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other top states for home improvement include Washington, Oregon, and Colorado. Their cities hammer their way into the better half of our ranking, with high scores across most metrics.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the flip side, cities across Alabama and New York land in the bottom half. Alabama cities fare poorly across all categories, while cost and access to designers and engineers weighed down most of the Empire State cities.<\/p>    <h3 id=\"standout-stats\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Standout stats<\/h3>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Magical makeovers: <\/strong>First place overall goes to <strong>Miami<\/strong>, also leading the way in Builder and Supplier Access. Magic City boasts the most construction suppliers, hardware stores, paint stores, and flooring suppliers per square mile. Miami also has the best access to roofing suppliers and roofers.&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Evergreen enhancements: <\/strong>Renovation resources are plentiful for <strong>Washington state<\/strong> residents. <strong>Vancouver<\/strong> (No. 2) takes second place in Builder and Supplier Access, followed by <strong>Spokane<\/strong> (No. 9) and <strong>Tacoma<\/strong> (No. 17). For outdoor upgrades, Vancouver also has the highest number of deck and porch contractors.&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Mountain-high costs: <\/strong>Unfortunately, having the best access to supplies and home improvement professionals isn\u2019t cheap. <strong>Washington state <\/strong>cities <strong>Vancouver<\/strong> (No. 2), <strong>Tacoma<\/strong> (No. 17), and <strong>Bellevue<\/strong> (No. 27) fall behind with low scores in Costs and Cost Inflators.<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Designer districts: <\/strong>Sunny <strong>California<\/strong> cities <strong>Ontario <\/strong>(No. 29), <strong>Orange<\/strong> (No. 6), <strong>Glendale <\/strong>(No. 37), and <strong>Garden Grove <\/strong>(No. 51) boast top access to residential landscape architects and designers. On the East Coast, <strong>Jersey City, New Jersey<\/strong> (No. 4), has the most residential architects and interior designers per 10,000 households, followed closely by <strong>Newark, New Jersey<\/strong> (No. 21).<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Old Dominion dwellings: <\/strong>There are many old homes in historic <strong>Virginia<\/strong> cities <strong>Alexandria<\/strong> (No. 3) and <strong>Richmond <\/strong>(No. 7). Thankfully, these cities take sixth and seventh places, respectively, in Builder and Supplier Access. Richmond and Alexandria each land within the top 20 cities for residential remodeling and home addition contractors per 10,000 homes.&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Building the Buckeye State: <\/strong>Only one <strong>Ohio<\/strong> city \u2014 <strong>Cincinnati<\/strong> (No. 61) \u2014 finishes in the top half of our ranking, with the highest Builder and Supplier Access among them. <strong>Akron<\/strong> (No. 195), <strong>Toledo<\/strong> (No. 197), and <strong>Cleveland<\/strong> (No. 198) land in the bottom 10 with low scores across categories. <strong>Columbus <\/strong>(No. 122) scores well in Costs, while <strong>Dayton <\/strong>(No. 188) ranks decently in Builder and Supplier Access.<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Fixer-upper finances: <\/strong>Home rejuvenation projects are most affordable for residents in<strong> Sioux Falls, South Dakota<\/strong> (No. 73), which claims first place in Costs and Cost Inflators, followed by <strong>Laredo, Texas<\/strong> (No. 82), and<strong> Durham, North Carolina<\/strong> (No. 60). Conversely, the least affordable cities for home improvement are <strong>Detroit<\/strong> (No. 200), <strong>Cleveland<\/strong> (No. 198), and <strong>Rockford, Illinois<\/strong> (No. 199).&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Keystone construction: <\/strong>Two <strong>Pennsylvania<\/strong> cities rank opposite each other: <strong>Pittsburgh<\/strong> at No. 16 and <strong>Philadelphia<\/strong> at No. 179. Pittsburgh impresses at No. 11 in Builder and Supplier Access, with high access to construction suppliers, hardware stores, plumbers, and landscaping contractors. Meanwhile, renovation is costly in Philly, and the city lacks access to residential designers and contractors.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ask-the-experts\"><span id=\"expert-take\">Expert take<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We turned to a panel of home improvement experts for some tips and insights. Read their advice below before planning your next project.<\/p>    <ol class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>What are the top three questions to ask before committing to a contractor?<\/li>    <li>What are three signs a homeowner should consider hiring a professional for their home improvement project?<\/li>    <li>What are three of the most common home improvements? Why are they so popular?<\/li>    <li>Which home improvements yield the most significant return on investment?<\/li>    <li>What is one home improvement project that might cost a homeowner more than it\u2019s worth in the long run?<\/li>    <li>What is one less obvious factor to consider when putting together a budget for a renovation project?<\/li>    <li>What are three unexpected challenges commonly associated with flipping or restoring an old home?<\/li>    <li>What is an easy home improvement project that any homeowner can DIY?<\/li> <\/ol>   <div id=\"experts-block\" class=\"experts\">     <h2 id=\"ask-the-experts\" class=\"text-2xl font-bold text-black mb-3\">Ask The Experts<\/h2>       <div id=\"experts-container\" class=\"relative lg:mt-6\" x-data=\"experts()\" x-init=\"init()\">      <style>       .expert-avatars {         scrollbar-width: none;         -ms-overflow-style: none;          \/* momentum scroll on iOS *\/         -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;          \/* disbable vertical scroll for touch *\/         touch-action: pan-x;       }        \/* hide scroll bar *\/       .expert-avatars::-webkit-scrollbar {         display: none;       }        .expert-avatars .item {         width: 125px;         flex-shrink: 0;       }        .expert-avatars .item:not(:last-child) {         margin-right: 10px;       }        \/* hacky fix for padding at the end of the.expert-avatars *\/       .expert-avatars .item:last-child {         position: relative;       }        .expert-avatars .item:last-child::after {         position: absolute;         left: 100%;         height: 1px;         width: 20px;         display: block;         content: \"\";       }        .trim-label {         max-height: 18px;         text-overflow: ellipsis;         overflow: hidden;         display: -webkit-box;         -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        .credentials {         max-height: 18px;         width: 250px;         text-overflow: ellipsis;         overflow: hidden;         display: -webkit-box;         -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        .credentials-small {         max-height: 18px;         width: 110px;         text-overflow: ellipsis;         overflow: hidden;         display: -webkit-box;         -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        [x-cloak] {         display: none;       }     <\/style>      <div class=\"expert-avatars flex overflow-x-scroll overscroll-contain px-2 mb-10 lg:hidden\">                         <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('dr-g-stacy-sirmans', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Stacy-Sirmans.jpg\" alt=\"Stacy Sirmans\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Dr. G. Stacy Sirmans <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Faculty, J. Harold &amp; Barbara M. Chastain Eminent Scholar in Real Estate<\/div>           <\/div>                   <\/div>                     <div           id=\"expert-dr-g-stacy-sirmans\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'dr-g-stacy-sirmans', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'dr-g-stacy-sirmans'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('dr-g-stacy-sirmans', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'dr-g-stacy-sirmans', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'dr-g-stacy-sirmans'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('dr-g-stacy-sirmans', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Stacy-Sirmans.jpg\" alt=\"Stacy Sirmans\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'dr-g-stacy-sirmans'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Dr. G. Stacy Sirmans <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'dr-g-stacy-sirmans'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Faculty, J. Harold &amp; Barbara M. Chastain Eminent Scholar in Real Estate<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'dr-g-stacy-sirmans'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Florida State University<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'dr-g-stacy-sirmans'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('dr-g-stacy-sirmans', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'dr-g-stacy-sirmans'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('dr-g-stacy-sirmans')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Stacy-Sirmans.jpg\" alt=\"Stacy Sirmans\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Dr. G. Stacy Sirmans <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Faculty, J. Harold &amp; Barbara M. Chastain Eminent Scholar in Real Estate<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Florida State University<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p><strong>What are the top three questions to ask before committing to a contractor?<\/strong><\/p> <p>1. Can you provide references or testimonials and examples or samples of your work?<\/p> <p>2. Who will be responsible for obtaining the required building permits? By agreement, the contractor may be willing to pull the permits.<\/p> <p>3. Are you licensed and insured?<\/p> <p><strong>What are three signs a homeowner should consider hiring a professional for their home improvement project?<\/strong><\/p> <p>The homeowner should consider the overall professionalism and experience of the contractor.<\/p> <p>The homeowner should expect the contractor to be completely open and upfront regarding costs, scheduling, etc. Labor and materials costs should be explicit and detailed, and nothing should be left open-ended or subject to interpretation.<\/p> <p>The homeowner should establish a clear timeline for the work to be done and how this job fits into the contractor\u2019s schedule of other projects that may be competing for the contractor\u2019s time.<\/p> <p><strong>What are three of the most common home improvements? Why are they so popular?<\/strong><\/p> <p>1. Kitchen remodel. Since homeowners spend considerable time in their kitchens, they want them to be both functional and visually appealing.<\/p> <p>Not only do homeowners\u2019 needs change over time (for example, seniors may prefer higher countertops and more accessible cabinets), but also homeowners\u2019 tastes and preferences change (different countertop components, cabinet design, faucet design, sink design, etc.). In addition, homeowners\u2019 preferences in appliances may change because of more advanced technology and changes in design, function, and structure.<\/p> <p>2. Bathroom remodel. Again, homeowners\u2019 needs and preferences change over time. Seniors may desire or require higher countertops, different tub\/shower structures, etc.<\/p> <p>Even absent a change in needs, over the years an increase in the number of bathrooms in a home has resulted in changes in homeowner bathroom consumption. It\u2019s no longer \u201cyour time\u2019s up, and now it\u2019s my turn.\u201d Bathrooms have been redesigned to make bathroom consumption a more pleasant experience. This is clearly evidenced by the significant increase in the amount of square footage allocated to bathroom space.<\/p> <p>It is clear that homeowners today have a preference for separating the shower experience from the tub experience, and have expanded both with garden tubs and more elaborate showers. Bathroom amenities \u2014 such as his and her sinks, garden tubs, and combinations of rainfall showers, wall showers, and body sprays \u2014 are much more prevalent today.<\/p> <p>3. Light fixtures. A simpler and easier (and maybe less expensive than a major remodel) way that a homeowner may update a home is to replace outdated lighting fixtures. Proper lighting can make a room seem larger and better showcase the home.<\/p> <p><strong>Which home improvements yield the most significant return on investment?<\/strong><\/p> <p>Bathroom and kitchen remodels or updates are most likely to provide the most significant return on investment. However, care must be taken to not overspend relative to the overall value of the house. For example, spending $80,000 to remodel a kitchen in a $150,000 house is likely not cost-effective.<\/p> <p><strong>What is one home improvement project that might cost a homeowner more than it\u2019s worth in the long run?<\/strong><\/p> <p>Windows are critical to a house and can certainly increase both outside and inside appeal, but window costs vary widely. The homeowner should be careful not to overinvest in windows relative to the overall value of the house.<\/p> <p><strong>What is one less obvious factor to consider when putting together a budget for a renovation project?<\/strong><\/p> <p>The homeowner should always be aware as a renovation is undertaken that there is always the possibility of unforeseen structural or foundation problems. These can add significant cost to the project.<\/p> <p><strong>What are three unexpected challenges commonly associated with flipping or restoring an old home?<\/strong><\/p> <p>1. There is always the possibility of encountering unforeseen structural or foundation problems.<\/p> <p>2. Remodeling costs may exceed original estimates due to cost overruns relative to changes in labor and\/or materials costs.<\/p> <p>3. Market timing or changing market conditions may result in decreased demand and\/or increased supply. Both these factors can significantly affect property values and the return to the investor.<\/p> <p><strong>What is an easy home improvement project that any homeowner can DIY?<\/strong><\/p> <p>A couple of projects come to mind.<\/p> <ul> <li>Flooring. With advances in flooring types and ease of installation (peel and stick, for example) almost anyone that is willing to tackle the project can perform an adequate job. Starting with a solid and prepared subfloor is a must.<\/li> <li>Painting. With a little preparation and careful attention, most people can perform an adequate paint job. However, homeowners should realize that painting can be tedious and time-consuming, so tremendous patience may sometimes be required.<\/li> <\/ul>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>              <\/div> <\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"methodology\"><span id=\"behind-the-ranking\">Behind the ranking<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Best Cities for Tackling Home Improvements. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into three categories: Builder and Supplier Access, Designer and Engineer Access, and Costs and Cost Inflators. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each city to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A city\u2019s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked \u201cBest\u201d (No. 1) and the lowest \u201cWorst\u201d (No. 200).<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-block-81f14426-f95d-40e8-afd0-223d6f0e96c7\" data-mobilecollapse=\"true\" data-desktopcollapse=\"true\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"false\"> <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; border-top-left-radius: 8px; border-top-right-radius: 8px; border-bottom-left-radius: 8px; border-bottom-right-radius: 8px; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-81f14426-f95d-40e8-afd0-223d6f0e96c7\" tabindex=\"0\"> \t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-81f14426-f95d-40e8-afd0-223d6f0e96c7\" style=\"color: #000000; \">Notes:<\/p> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-81f14426-f95d-40e8-afd0-223d6f0e96c7\">  <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>The \u201cWorst\u201d among individual factors may not be No. 200 due to ties.<\/li>    <li>\u201cCost Inflators\u201d include factors likely to increase the price of home improvement projects, such as the size and age of the home as well as natural hazards.<\/li> <\/ul>  <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>  <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"56fd0f2f-c56e-4e67-b4a6-68072d26a000\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Methodology Table - 2023&amp;#39;s Best Cities for Tackling Home Improvements\"><\/div> <p><script>!function(e,i,n,s){var t=\"InfogramEmbeds\",d=e.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0];if(window[t]&&window[t].initialized)window[t].process&&window[t].process();else if(!e.getElementById(n)){var o=e.createElement(\"script\");o.async=1,o.id=n,o.src=\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\",d.parentNode.insertBefore(o,d)}}(document,0,\"infogram-async\");<\/script><\/p>    <h3 id=\"sources\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h3>    <p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><em>AreaVibes, BuildZoom, Census Business Builder, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Homes.com, Houzz, Indeed, Investopedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, and Yelp<\/em><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-thoughts\"><span id=\"invest-in-your-landscape\">Invest in your landscape<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t stop with rejuvenating the inside of your abode \u2014 increasing your outdoor curb appeal can increase the value of your home by up to <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/top-landscaping-projects-increase-home-value\/#:~:text=up%20to%20a%2012%25%20increase\">12%<\/a>. Read through our ideas below to help make your outdoor space feel homey.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Add some mood <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/outdoor-landscape-lighting-ideas\/\">lighting<\/a>.<\/li>    <li>Cook up a meal on the grill or in an <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/15-great-outdoor-kitchen-design-ideas\/\">outdoor kitchen<\/a>.<\/li>    <li>Gather round and make smores with an <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/cozy-outdoor-fireplace-ideas\/\">outdoor fireplace<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/fire-pit-cost\/\">fire pit<\/a>.<\/li>    <li>Add some personality to your <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/budget-backyard-patio-ideas\/\">patio<\/a>.<\/li>    <li>Make the yard fun for the <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/backyard-play-area-ideas-kids\/\">kids<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/landscaping-ideas-for-cat-lovers\/\">cats<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/dog-friendly-backyard-landscaping-ideas\/\">dogs<\/a>.<\/li>    <li>Enhance your <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/landscaping-ideas-backyard-privacy\/\">privacy<\/a> with some fencing.<\/li>    <li>Install a <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/above-ground-pool-cost\/\">pool<\/a>.<\/li>    <li>Grow a veggie <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/beginners-guide-scrap-gardening\/\">garden<\/a>.<\/li>    <li>Strategically place mosquito-repelling <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-plants-repel-mosquitoes\/\">plants<\/a> around your deck or entertainment area.<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Don\u2019t leave out your backyard during your next home makeover. <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/\"><em>Hire a local Lawn Love pro<\/em><\/a> <em>to give your landscape a facelift.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"media-resources\">Media resources<\/h2>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1XrSzTir21FM6bzhpaBzXC3o0d1qsHZEX\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">High-resolution image of infographic<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1DAez0eoaXqlbpkyhL553MwV4C0eEHQeRndj6mexkXWs\/edit#gid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">High-resolution images of cities<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Main Photo Credit: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/young-couple-looking-blueprints-of-their-home-with-handyman-gm834453546-135643811\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">iStock<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Where can a home renovation or remodeling project cause less of a headache? To mark May as National Home Improvement [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":16214,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[169],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-studies"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iStock-834453546-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Sav Maive","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/sav-maive\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16209"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16209\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}