Today: Three Reasons Why Women Find Home Construction HOT

Women are drawn to the home construction and renovation industry like never before. And the reason I know is because I get inordinate numbers of e-mails from readers asking for relationship help that comes with this trend. Decisions that need to be made affect couples, as do the transition — and sometimes chaos — that is imposed on couples and comes from construction and remodeling changes.

Here are some of the reasons I get so many e-mails from readers:

1. Women are financially better off than they used to be. Yes, there is still inequity in paychecks, but women have more money and more disposable income than they used to — and it’s all theirs — not just theirs and theirs and their husband’s. So, what are they doing with this money? They’re buying condos, homes and they’re nesting — with drills, nails and hammers — not just cookie dough and pot holders.

2. There are more single women than ever before. Women marry later and have children later. They also divorce more. And while The Golden Girls is still a model for some but most women who are single and have careers (or just money — sometimes from divorce settlements, sometimes from family), buy themselves homes and then take care of the homes themselves.

3. The allure of the handymen. We’ve all seen Desperate Housewives, and the NYT piece about women leaving their husbands for the handyman…so it HAS to be true. Construction workers, handymen, painters, carpenters — men who work with their hands are sexy, and women like having them around. Besides — they get things done!