However, the poll - conducted by Ipsos Reid - also found that more Albertans say they have completed renovation projects this year (62 per cent) compared to 2008. In fact, 74 per cent of homeowners planning to renovate indicate they will take advantage of the federal government's home renovation tax credit this year and close to half (46 per cent) who are using the credit have renovated more due to the tax break.
"The home renovation tax credit appears to have spurred a flurry of new projects," said
The RBC survey suggests that Albertans are budget conscious. Less than half (47 per cent) of renovators who had a budget for their home improvements were likely to have exceeded their renovation budget, the lowest rate in the country. Those who intend to renovate expect to spend an average of
Bathroom and kitchen renovations lead the way as the most popular planned renovation projects among Alberta homeowners (46 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively). Among home improvement projects, 49 per cent said they intend to paint and 38 per cent said landscaping was part of their plan. Compared with other regions, Alberta homeowners planning to renovate are most likely to do the majority of work themselves (55 per cent).
Eco-friendly renovation
Three-quarters of Alberta homeowners (75 per cent) would choose an environmentally-friendly approach if it would save money in the long run, even if it costs more now. The majority of Albertans (60 per cent) believe that 'green' improvements would increase the value of their home.
Renovation Intentions Among Regions Average Spend B.C. 65% $10129 Alberta 64% $12374 Sask/Man 73% $15133 Ontario 67% $12428 Quebec 65% $ 7734 Atlantic Canada 72% $12586
These are some of the findings of an RBC poll conducted by Ipsos Reid between September 8-16, 2009. The online survey is based on a randomly selected representative sample of 3,120 adult Canadian homeowners including 291 Alberta residents. With a representative sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within +/- 5.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire Alberta adult population been polled. The sample's composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data.
For full tabular results, please see the Ipsos Reid website at www.ipsos.ca.
For further information: For further information: Media Contact: Jo-Anne Fraser, Media Relations, (403) 292-3372
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