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Throughout 2025, many industries have seen increased prices on goods due to changes in tariffs. Often, these price increases are passed on to the consumer, ultimately impacting the choices they make in their daily lives. In partnership with Pollfish, Eagle Woodworking conducted a survey of 1,000 U.S. homeowners on Nov. 18 to determine how tariffs are affecting their renovation decisions.
Survey results show that many Americans are delaying their renovations until a more favorable time, while others are forgoing them altogether in the face of increased prices. Let’s take a look at the survey results to see where the economic tensions lie and how Americans are pulling back their renovation plans.
Key Takeaways
- Remodeling costs are on the rise. Over half of homeowners said tariffs increased their remodeling costs.
- Homeowners are hesitating to plan renovations due to costs. Nearly 70% of homeowners report concern that trade policies will make home projects unaffordable.
- Secondhand products are gaining popularity. Secondhand or upcycled goods are favored by 24% of homeowners.
What Renovations Are Americans Planning
Rather than get into large renovation projects, homeowners are trending toward buying new furniture and appliances, but even these purchases are getting put on hold. Among those planning a remodel, 39% were focused on remodeling and decorating a bathroom, followed closely by a third (33%) who are planning to remodel or redecorate their kitchen.
Twenty-four percent said they have other remodeling or decorating plans. Interestingly, almost a quarter (22%) responded that they weren’t planning any renovations for this year, and only 12% were planning to add an extension.
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How Tariffs Have Disrupted Renovation Plans
The tariffs, either announced, enacted, or expected, have already had an impact on the homebuilding and renovation industry. In fact, over half (52%) of survey respondents said that tariffs have increased costs for their projects. As a result, 30% paused their projects in hopes that prices would level out or come down in the future.
In April, according to the National Association of Homebuilders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), suppliers increased their prices by 6.3%. Some builders are preordering materials to keep costs down, but often don’t have a place to store them.
However, according to the latest HMI survey,