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Do you know HGTV’s Property Brothers? Jonathan and Drew Scott were catapulted into fame with their home and garden series Property Brothers. Since their show first aired in 2011, the brothers have been featured in several spinoffs and have become trusted voices in the real estate and home renovation space. That said, they recently spoke out about President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs and how they might impact the cost of construction. So, if you are planning on doing home renovations in 2025, you may want to hold off. Here’s why.
Who are the Scott Brothers?
Image Source: YouTube/HGTV UK
If you aren’t familiar with the Scott brothers, you may be asking yourself why you should care about what they have to say. Jonathan and Drew Scott grew up in British Columbia. When they turned 18, they started getting involved in the world of real estate. They rehabbed a building and then leased the property to other university students. In 2008, talks started about a potential real estate show for the brothers.
Property Brothers aired in 2011 and, after just two years on HGTV, it became the network’s number-one show. Since then, they have become trusted real estate experts.
Why You May Want to Delay Home Renovations
Initially, the twin brothers were excited about the prospect of Kamala Harris’ plan to build 3 million new homes if she was elected. However, Donald Trump won the 2024 election and it has the real estate duo nervous.
“Jonathan and I love the idea of domestic-made products,” Drew told Bloomberg. That is the goal of Trump’s proposed tariffs on products being imported into the United States. Jonathan pointed out that it will impact the cost of any building materials that aren’t made in the U.S. though. He said, “There is a balance we need to strike. Blanket tariffs are not good for any economy.”
Trump has proposed a number of new policies. One of them is an across-the-board tariff of 10 to 20% on all goods imported to the U.S. On top of that, there would be a 60% tariff on items imported from China and a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico.
While the brothers have been able to make money in “every kind of market possible,” it isn’t the best time to start flipping houses. Material costs will likely go up, making renovations difficult. Not to mention, high interest rates will make things harder to flip properties as well. For the most part, homeowners are going to be staying where they are and waiting to see how the economy is impacted by the change in regime.
Making Changes You Can Afford
The Scotts are working on a new television show. Apparently, it is going to focus on more manageable changes you can make that will change the look and feel of your home. At the end of the day, Drew pointed out, “Full-scale renovations are not realistic for everyone.” Here are some small changes you might consider rather than doing a full-on renovation of your home…
- Declutter – Cleaning out your space is a great way to transform your home, making it feel more open
- Rearrange your furniture – Switching where items are in your house can give things an all-new look without spending any money
- Update lighting fixtures – You can swap out some of your lighting fixtures and it can completely change the feel of a room
- Add greenery – Adding plants to your home can add color and vibrancy
- Paint an accent wall – This is a quick update that can transform an entire room
- Window treatments – Install new blinds or add curtains for a new look
- Accessories – Buy throw pillows or swap out your rugs for different seasons
- Cabinet updates – Swap out the cabinet fixtures for something new or paint your cabinets for a new look in the kitchen
Other small DIY projects might include painting the trim, adding crown molding, or building a custom headboard for your room. Remember, you don’t have to spend a ton to transform your home if you’re looking for something new.
One thing is for certain. You should probably hold off on any major home renovations until we see how prices will be impacted in 2025.
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Drew Blankenship is a former Porsche technician who writes and develops content full-time. He lives in North Carolina, where he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. While Drew no longer gets his hands dirty modifying Porsches, he still loves motorsport and avidly watches Formula 1.