Feb 27 2008 7:22AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
Blog This! using: Blogger.com | LiveJournal |

NAHB recently released the results of its quarterly survey of remodelers, with just over half of the respondents expecting an increase in business in 2008. 

The survey of NAHB Remodelers members shows 51 percent expect business to increase this year, 27 percent expect it to hold steady and 22 percent expect a decrease. Of the same group, 32 percent reported a downturn in 2007 and 43 percent an increase, with 25 percent seeing no change.

NAHB also asked remodelers what they saw as the most significant issues facing remodeling in the next five years. Not surprisingly, availability of skilled labor topped the list at 56 percent, followed by the aging population at 50 percent and "role of the Internet" at 42 percent (even NAHB economist Gopal Ahluwalia admitted he didn't know what that meant.)

Other issues cited:

• Increased government regulation 36%
• Competition from other remodelers 28%
• Competition from retailers 27%
• Immigrant work force 25%
• Partnership between remodelers and manufacturers 16%
• Computerization for office functions 15%
• CAD 13%
• Consolidation 11%
• Changes in distribution channels 6%
• Franchising 5%