8615 - Lesson Overview

Careers in Home Maintenance & Improvement
There has been tremendous surge in the home maintenance and improvement industries over the last fifteen years. For a variety of reasons, redecorating your home is a trendy, upscale activity today. Home improvement superstores have replaced traditional lumberyards and hardware stores in many communities. Family-owned lumberyards have diversified product lines and services. Discount stores offer home improvement supplies such as paint, tools, and electrical items. TV channels specialize in home improvement and related information. Web sites deliver a variety of home maintenance and improvement information to consumers. Increasing environmental regulation make it convenient for consumers to purchase many pesticide services. Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies suggests that U.S. consumers spend over 200 billion dollars annually for home maintenance, improvement.

As our society has become urbanized, many essential skills are no longer handed down within families. Fewer people choose to make a living with outdoor tools.  Society’s focus has shifted to careers involving communications technology. These factors serve to increase entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for individuals other types of skills. Many segments of the home maintenance and improvement industry are begging for trained individuals. Some superstores have developed their own training programs and partnered with local high schools to develop dependable sources of trained employees. There are a variety of certifications options for pesticide applicators. Residences must be inspected before lending institutions will approve financing. Apartments and other rental properties must be maintained or repaired periodically.

Home maintenance and improvement falls into the power, structural, and technical systems career specialty area. Occupational opportunities include building contractors, appraisers, property inspectors, maintenance supervisors, salespersons, planners, and related specialists. Credentials range from postsecondary certifications in a variety of areas to associate degrees through the Ph.D. level.

Reading skills, oral and written communications skills, and mathematical skills are vital for career success.