Featured Story / September 2024

Pets are a Priority During Home Renovations

Story courtesy Houzz.com

Flooring upgrades are common among renovating pet owners.

Houzz Inc., the leading platform for home building, remodeling and design, empowering industry professionals and their clients with all-in-one project management and design software, recently released the 2024 Houzz U.S. Pets & the Home Report. The survey of more than 1,000 respondents found that nearly half prioritize pets in their decision-making process when upgrading their home (48%). Considerations include pet-friendly products and materials (34%) and choosing design or functionality specific to their pet, like incorporating space for an animal’s bed or feeding station (22%).

“As pet ownership rates continue to increase, we’re seeing an impact on home renovation decisions,” said Marine Sargsyan, Houzz staff economist. “Whether selecting pet-friendly materials or incorporating built-in feeding stations and cozy nooks, homeowners are designing spaces that prioritize the needs of all family members, including pets. This highlights the important role pets play in shaping how people invest in and customize their homes, often with the help of professionals.”

More than four in five renovating pet owners hired a professional to help with their project (86%). General contractors and specialty trades, such as electricians and plumbers, were hired most frequently (48% and 29%, respectively). A quarter of renovating pet owners hired flooring specialists for their projects (25%), which may be unsurprising given that flooring was the most common project among this group (51%). Landscaping, wall or baseboard upgrades and door frame replacements were also popular projects (34%, 34% and 31%, respectively).

More than half of renovating pet owners made special arrangements for their pets during renovation projects (57%). The majority limited access for their furry friends within the home (43%), and 6% temporarily moved their animal out of the home. Contractors on Houzz suggest creating a pet policy for homeowners and pros to follow during a project to ensure the safety of humans and their four-legged friends.

Additional insights from the 2024 Houzz U.S. Pets & the Home Report include:

Animal House: The majority of pet owners have a single pet (44%), however over a quarter have 3 or more animals in their home (26%). Dogs were the most common among pet parents (83%), followed by cats (33%), birds (3%) and fish (3%).
Who Rules the Roost: More than 3 in 5 pet owners allow their pets in all areas of their home (63%) and a similar share also give their pets free reign over the furniture (60%). While more than 1 in 10 pet owners do not allow animals on the furniture, some suspect that pets take advantage of the furniture when the owner is not home. Pets are more likely to sleep with their owners than in their own bed or crate (47% versus 38%).
Custom Feeding Stations, Catios and More: Nearly 1 in 10 renovating pet owners added built-in areas as part of their home upgrades, with feeding stations (39%) and outdoor enclosures (34%), such as a catio, topping the list. Other built-ins included sleeping or relaxation areas (21%) and grooming stations, play structures and litter boxes (18%, each).
Pet Peeves: The biggest pet-related challenges that owners face include an overabundance of fur and hair (65%), followed by tracked-in dirt, mud or other outdoor elements (42%), and keeping pet-related items organized and out of the way (28%).
Call in the Replacements: Nearly three quarters of pet owners report they had to replace a household item because of their pets (73%). Carpets or rugs are the most frequently replaced items (35%) due to damage by the pet, followed by furniture (17%) and bedding (15%).

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing an all-in-one software solution for industry professionals and tools for homeowners to update their homes from start to finish. Using Houzz, people can find ideas and inspiration, hire professionals and shop for products.

The 2024 Houzz U.S. Pets & The Home Report surveyed pet owners, more than three quarters of whom are in the midst of, are planning or recently completed a home renovation. The online survey was fielded to U.S. Houzz users in August 2024. n=1,165.