Help Homeowners Avoid Renovation Regrets

One of the biggest regrets homeowners experience following a renovation is wishing they had spent more on the products that they really wanted to make them happy, research shows. This is especially true today as rising interest rates and other factors mean they are not rethinking their space for resale but to stay put. “They are renovating because they want to enjoy their home in the long run for themselves and their family,” says Houzz Pro Vice President of Industry Marketing Liza Hausman, based on the latest Houzz & Home data.

How can interior designers and builders work with product manufacturers to assure their clients make choices they rave about to neighbors and in the five-star reviews that lead to referrals and repeat clients?

To find out, Houzz Pro gathered four product experts with a focus on bringing ambiance and function to homes: Pleasing light and sound, healthy air and enviable curb appeal. 

Joining in the conversation at the Houzz Pro booth at IBS/KBIS 2023 were Dave Jones, senior marketing and brand manager at Broan-NuTone; Justin Evans, vice president of marketing for Clopay; Nick DeVita, senior global training manager at Sonos Professional and Stephan Moyon, president of VELUX North America.

Here are three highlights from the discussion. Watch the full video here.

Limit Choices (within reason)

A common source of regret comes when homeowners become overwhelmed with too many choices and make a decision based on price only, Moyon says. “I’m a believer in streamlined products and choices.” One of the biggest regrets he hears from homeowners is the wish they had chosen a skylight that opens to the fresh air instead of a fixed one.“I think it's our responsibility as manufacturers to pave the way for consumers and contractors to make easy decisions,” he says.

Just don’t limit options too dramatically, Evans warns. With too few choices clients will go elsewhere to find the garage door they want, he says. “We've discovered through our research that three to five is the sweet spot,” he says.“If you can offer a customer three to five choices, they will feel like you're listening to them.”  

Emphasize The Experience

The last thing you want to leave a client with at the end of a project is neighbor envy, DeVita says. "They see an experience, whether it's a garage door, or a skylight, or a range hood, or audio and they go: ‘I should have done that. Why didn't I do that?’”  

Sonos focuses on finding out the type of audio experience a customer is seeking. “I like to put things in a realistic scenario: It's nine o'clock at night on a Saturday, you have some friends over, you want to make that experience better with sound, what do you want  to make that experience come to life?’’ he says. “Once they land on an experience they'll most likely go with whatever products will provide them with that experience,” he says.

Adding a new garage door can dramatically change the look and aesthetic of a home. “A garage door used to be just functional, now it's fashionable too,’’ Evans says. Clopay eases the fear of buyer’s remorse by providing homeowners with visualization tools. Homeowners can upload a photo of their home to the Clopay virtual door imagination system and run through door options.“You can try before you buy,” he says.

Contractors as Partners

Contractors can be key to helping clients make the right choices for their home and family, the experts agree. VELUX America has a preferred network of more than 200 skylight installers throughout the US with a goal of training 400, Moyon says. The company also tailors its website to make sure the right information is going to the right audience. “We've designed web properties that are specifically for contractors, and specifically for consumers so we are not blending the two,” Moyon says. 

Broan-NuTone differentiates their residential ventilation products (think range hoods, bath fans and fresh air systems) with a focus on healthy air and wellness. In 2022, the company launched a Premiere Pro program which certifies contractors in indoor air quality and the brand’s products, Jones says. “The point is to provide information for them to take to their customers because they are missing that link,” he says. They also provide a steady stream of podcasts, newsletters, and webinars to clients and pros. 

While range hood choices are greatly driven by building codes, premium choices often leave homeowners happier, Jones says. “If you buy a hood that's really loud, you're not going to use it,” he says. “If I can't hear the music in my home, then I'm not going to turn on my range hood. That's an issue for people's health and wellness.”

Photography by John Roberts, Wray Ward.