Here's what homeowners are planning

New research from the Home Improvement Research Institute shows that nearly 2-in-3 homeowners are planning at least one home improvement project in the next three months.

No real surprise there — the number has fluctuated slightly in the past three years, but not to a degree considered statistically significant.

But there has been some statistically significant movement on the list of first-quarter projects planned, when compared with the previous year’s list.

Leading the gainers was “Plumbing/electrical,” which jumped nearly 4 percentage points from 6.2% to 10.0%. Among decliners, the biggest drop was suffered by the “Living room,” which declined from 17.3% in the first quarter last year, to 11.7% in the recent first quarter.

Overall, according to HIRI’s first-quarter survey, attitudes toward home and home improvement continue to be positive, particularly among the “heavy project planners.”

The study defines these homeowners as those planning to start six or more home improvement projects in the next three months. They make up 17% of the U.S. home improvement market.

These heavy project planners tend to be male, typically under the age of 40, married and college-educated, with an annual income of $75,000 or more and young kids in the house.

For more information, visit HIRI.org.