Houzz Stat: Outdoor specialty firms remain optimistic

Landscape and outdoor specialty firms are most optimistic overall. Landscape and outdoor specialty firms received the highest Q2 barometer score of all the professional sectors surveyed: an impressive 78. That reflects a notable rise after a weakened score during the first quarter of 2017. Landscape and outdoor specialty firms include landscape architects, designers and contractors; outdoor replacement trades such as pavers; and outdoor product installers, manufacturers and resellers of items such as pools and spas.

Meanwhile, building and renovation specialty companies also had a high score for the second quarter: 73. Building and renovation specialty firms include replacement contractors (for example, carpenters) and product installers, manufacturers and resellers (of cabinetry, for example).

For both of these sectors, the scores during the second quarter of 2017 are in line with those for the same period one year earlier.

Outdoor firms’ score for new inquiries dips slightly. On a year-over-year basis, the score representing the number of inquiries made to landscape and outdoor specialty firms took a small (three-point) downturn. But with scores in the high 60s and 70s across all components of the barometer, readings remain strong for both building and renovation specialty firms and landscape and outdoor specialty firms.

Catch up on the latest Barometer results here.