[ HOME IMPROVEMENT ]
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Isle homeowners
find work pays
dividends for value
Retail outlets report a surge in demand
for alterations to living arrangements
An increasingly tight housing market coupled with a rebounding economy has sparked more residents to take on home improvement projects, according to local hardware stores.
"I don't know where the recession is at, but it's not here," says Robert Kehne, operations manager at Home Depot in Pearl City. "We're selling a lot of lumber and building materials."
In addition to construction projects, air conditioners and gardening supplies are also popular. While some residents aim to increase the value of their property in hopes of selling it, others are interested in improving their living spaces.
"As the housing market (heats up), people are going to fix up what they have," Kehne said. "It's a great investment to put a little bit of money into your kitchen, your restrooms, the curb appeal of your house.
"You could spend five or six thousand dollars ... and probably add 25 percent in value to the property."
At City Mill's Kaimuki store, supervisor Matthew Collins sees a lot of residents come in to purchase supplies for large home improvement projects.
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But for every customer looking to build something, there's also someone who walks into the store looking to make better use of what they already have.
"People have been trying to create space around the home, whether it's inside or outside," Collins said. "Whether they build something or just buy something that does it ... people can get really creative on how they want to save space."
One of the most popular items in stock now is prefabricated metal shelving, ranging in price from $15.99 to $24.99. The shelves come with adjustable feet. Plexiglas panels are also available to allow for smaller items to be stored on them.
Wire mesh cubes are also a favorite among isle residents, who use them to store anything from toys and clothes to books and cooking supplies. At $29.99 a three-pack, the mesh cubes are an affordable way to create storage space without permanently changing a home's layout.
And while the majority of customers they've talked to already have an idea of what they want to do when they walk in, both Kehne and Collins say their employees are willing to help design just about any home-improvement project that comes to mind.
"As long as they can give us some kind of idea of what kind of space we're working with, even if it's not exact, we can help them figure out what to do," said Collins.
At Home Depot's two Oahu stores, customers can participate in a variety of workshops offered several times a week. Residents can learn how to lay ceramic tile, paint their homes, or install a ceiling fan, all for free.
"If they're going to make a mistake, they can do it with our stuff before they get home," Kehne said. "Our customers get to play with everything that they're learning about, so it's a lot of fun."
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