How homeowners see their home as an extension of themselves

Four in five homeowners see their home as an extension of themselves, according to new research.

The survey of 2,000 American homeowners explored respondents’ attachments to their homes, and the results revealed that 78% see their homes as a part of themselves.

Millennial homeowners were the most likely to agree with this idea, at 88%.

Results also found that 35% of respondents claim there are no aspects of their homes that they would change, if given the opportunity.

Conducted by Talker Research for System Pavers, the survey explored what it is about respondents’ homes they love so much — digging into their purchasing priorities.

Respondents were given a variety of features and asked which they prioritized the most when initially purchasing their home.

Topping the list of desired elements, 33% of respondents who chose the style of their home as one of their top priorities said it was the No. 1 thing they considered, while square footage was the top pick for 29% who prioritized that when browsing.

Another 23% of those who looked for a backyard said it was the most important feature when purchasing a home.

For those who have exterior elements to their home — a backyard, a porch, etc. — 60% said they spend as much time as possible in those exterior areas.

Millennials were the most likely to agree — 82% of millennials surveyed said they spend as much time as they can in the outdoor spaces of their home, compared to 56% of baby boomers.

Not only that, but millennials were also the generation most likely to want more exterior space for their home — 61%, versus 32% of boomers surveyed.

“What we're seeing, especially with millennial homeowners, is a focus on turning outdoor areas into amazing entertainment spaces,” said Cassi Hallam, chief marketing officer at System Pavers. “It's more than just adding value to the house; it's about creating a place where they can truly relax and enjoy time with friends and family. They're prioritizing having a dedicated outdoor space that reflects personal style and makes everyday living feel a bit more special.”

Backyards are the most favored outdoor areas (70%), followed by gardens (69%), front yards (61%) and decks (61%) by those who have them.

Front yards and gardens are most likely to be voted as the “pride” of respondents’ homes (87% each).

When asked what they’d most like to use their outdoor space for, relaxing was the first choice by quite a margin, at 51%. The second choice, gardening, was selected by 17% of respondents.

Respondents also said they like to, “sit in the backyard while my dog enjoys being outside,” and they enjoy “having children and grandchildren visit and play in the yard.”

Another respondent said, “I enjoy all of my outdoor areas, but I enjoy my garden the most for what it gives back,” while a fourth highlighted the joy of, “sitting on the porch during nice weather.”

When the weather is poor and respondents aren’t able to spend time outside, 27% said they “miss it a lot.”
And 63% of respondents with an exterior space agreed: No feeling compares to the first moment you can go outside in your yard after bad weather.

“Getting outside with loved ones in a beautiful space sets the stage for making those special moments together,” Hallam said. “We love helping homeowners transform their backyards into places where life happens. Whether it's a cozy covered patio for gatherings throughout the year, a fully equipped outdoor kitchen for easy entertaining, or low-maintenance paver and turf areas that allow time for more enjoyment and less work, our goal is to design spaces that bring people closer, and add real value to homes and lifestyles.”

Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 homeowners; the survey was commissioned by System Pavers and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between March 10–14, 2025.
We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:
● Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
● Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in
Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:
● Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
● Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
● Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
● Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once
It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.