Feel like you just put away the grill and finished your fall cleanup? Well, it’s already time to tackle a bunch of new home tasks before winter fully sets in.
Tech platform Thumbtack has compiled its top trending home projects to complete right now, which means your free time just got a little tighter.
And for indoor projects, topping the list was securing a real estate agent and requesting a home appraisal, according to the report.
The reason? Even though winter isn’t typically a hot time to sell a house, homeowners are thinking about entering the market to list their homes this season.
When it comes to requesting appraisal help, it’s often “someone looking to sell or refinance who wants to confirm their property value or use their property as collateral for a loan,” explains Kendra Sinclair, Thumbtack’s home design trends expert.
As for outdoor tasks, the No. 1 task to tackle is weatherization, followed by holiday-light installation.
How the trends were determined
Thumbtack has access to millions of projects and uses this trove of data to reveal popular repair and remodeling trends among homeowners. Specifically, for this research about winter to-dos, Thumbtack compared home projects between September 2023 and September 2024.
The platform looked at projects with the biggest increases year over year, as well as the greatest increase by volume, and used national average cost estimates for pricing data in the report.
It also checked in on the professionals that homeowners are lining up ahead of winter and the holiday season. A handyman heads the top 10 list, with appliance repair, electrical work, and plumbing jobs right behind—because no one wants a clogged toilet at Thanksgiving!
Top 10 indoor projects
1. Real estate agent +131%
2. Real estate appraisal +117%
3. Railing installation or remodel +60%
4. Carpet repair or replacement +57%
5. Upholstery and furniture cleaning +49%
6. Closet and shelving system installation +47%
7. Floor repair +44%
8. Home theater repair +43%
9. Home modification for accessibility +42%
10.Tile and grout cleaning +39%
For the most part, the findings here match the chores many of us do anyway when readying a home for a change of seasons (cleaning, organizing). But some of the trends did surprise Sinclair. “Home theater repair piqued my curiosity,” she says, though it’s not clear whether people are replacing tech (screens, audio, projectors) or their seats are getting a facelift.
“It could be out with overstuffed loungers bolted to the floor and in with chaise lounges that can be moved around the room,” she adds. And since soundproofing or acoustic treatments can degrade over time, upgrading panels, adding insulation or putting in new speakers and amplifiers might be part of this trend, she continues.
Top 10 outdoor projects
1. Weatherization +118%
2. Holiday lighting installation +116%
3. Solar paneling cleaning +107%
4. Window cleaning +73%
5. Roof cleaning +66%
6. Pest inspection +50%
7. Solar panel installation and repair +48%
8. Home security system repair +47%
9. Hot tub and spa repair +46%
10.Water feature installation +44%
Weatherizing isn’t sexy, we’ll admit, but without it you run the risk of lost heat through cracks and holes.
“Caulking windows and doors, installing weather stripping, and insulating attics and basements improves energy efficiency which translates into savings on bills and a more comfortable environment,” says Laura Madrigal, a home remodeling specialist at Fixr.com.
But if you can only focus on one area, make it the roof, she counsels.
“Without a doubt, roof repair is the most important exterior project,” she insists. “A poorly maintained roof can cause leaks, water damage, and even structural problems during the winter.”
And if you can tackle some cleaning, you’ll actually be healthier.
“It pays to thoroughly clean floors, joints, and surfaces. This not only looks better but also removes allergens and dust that closed windows can aggravate,” says Madrigal.
As for the more joyful trends? They certainly include holiday lights and installing a water feature, number 10 on the list.
Homeowners are getting festive and decorating earlier each year, starting with Halloween decor—even in September—and then transitioning to winter decorations and holiday lights by early November. Plus, homeowners are staying festive longer, and decorations don’t necessarily come down when the season ends, per the report.
Madrigal reports that “the spike in water features speaks to a yard transformation that improves ambiance and aesthetic—sitting by a gurgling fountain or watching birds bathe in a small pond can be an immediate mood booster.”
Jennifer Kelly Geddes, realtor.com