Driving HELOC Conversions through Home Renovation Tools

Current market data shows homeowners are sitting on record equity and increasingly using it to renovate rather than move. According to a TD Bank survey, 83% of owners feel their equity has grown, and 57% estimate it exceeds $100K. As a result, most are staying put: 63% of homeowners would rather remodel than buy new. Indeed, 69% of owners are renovating or plan to in the next two years. In this environment, tapping home equity is top of mind. For example, 38% of homeowners planning renovations expect to use a HELOC or home equity loan to pay for it, and historically, over half of HELOC borrowers fund their home upgrades this way.

Banks that meet this demand have much to gain. By offering an interactive renovation-planning tool, lenders can engage homeowners at the moment they need financing and guide them toward HELOC products. Kukun’s Renovation Cost Estimator does exactly this, with features designed for a seamless customer experience and strong ROI impact:

• Local, data-driven cost estimates: Kukun’s Estimator taps a national home database to tailor every project estimate to the customer’s location. Users select room(s), finishes, and project scope, and the tool instantly returns a precise budget. It even supports three spending levels (value/quality/luxury) to match homeowner goals.
  
• Built-in ROI projections: Beyond just costs, the Estimator shows how each renovation affects home value. When a planned upgrade raises resale value more than its cost, the tool highlights that as “profit.” This clear return-on-investment calculation helps homeowners (and their banks) see the financial upside of renovating.
  
• Proven accuracy: Kukun validated the Estimator with licensed contractors nationwide; 9 out of 10 agreed the tool’s prices were consistent with their own estimates. This contractor-verified accuracy builds trust when banks present the tool to savvy customers.
  
• Seamless integration: The Estimator is built for enterprise. Banks can white-label the tool on their website or app via API or an embedded iframe, under their own branding. This lets lenders offer the functionality directly in their digital channels without heavy development.
  
• Engagement & lead-generation: By allowing homeowners to build and save renovation plans, banks capture user interest early. Every estimate and ROI report is an opportunity: when a user sees a remodeling budget, the bank can suggest financing (e.g., “You may finance $50K of this project with a HELOC”). Early adopters like Chase, U.S. Bank, and PNC already use Kukun’s platform to educate and retain customers in this way.

Banks and lenders looking to offer a seamless customer experience can take advantage of Kukun’s white-label Renovation Estimator. Fully brand-customizable and easy to integrate via API or iframe, this solution allows financial institutions to deliver accurate renovation budgeting, ROI insights, and home improvement planning directly on their own platforms. It’s a powerful way to enhance digital engagement while driving qualified loan applications. You can contact us for more info

With Kukun’s estimator embedded on a lender’s site, customers can interactively plan projects. In the example above, a homeowner experiments with material choices and finishes, and the estimator instantly updates the renovation budget and value impact. This kind of hands-on UX keeps users engaged: they get realistic numbers up front and understand how financing (like a HELOC) supports their plans. As they tweak plans, the bank learns the customer’s intentions (new kitchen? bathroom remodel?) and can tailor loan offers accordingly.

Banks that integrate Kukun’s tool unlock multiple benefits. One, it educates consumers on renovation feasibility before they ever speak to a loan officer, so conversations are more qualified. Two, it reinforces the bank as a helpful partner in homeownership, not just a lender, building goodwill. And three, it accelerates HELOC applications: TD Bank’s survey notes 57% of respondents are likely to apply for a HELOC within 18 months. When customers see the precise cost of the projects they want, that intent converts into action.

Moreover, Kukun’s solution is turnkey for banks. As shown above, the estimator can be embedded on a bank page via a simple iframe or API integration. Behind the scenes, Kukun handles all the data and analytics (updating local pricing, material lists and ROI models) so the bank doesn’t need to maintain its cost database. This low-friction integration means banks can launch the tool quickly and start gathering loan leads immediately. And because Kukun’s estimates are backed by contractor validation, banks can be confident in the accuracy of the information they present.

By combining these capabilities, Kukun helps banks meet the surging demand for renovation financing. Instead of just marketing HELOCs generically, lenders give customers a concrete way to visualize and budget their dream projects, which in turn drives HELOC conversions. In short, Kukun’s Renovation Cost Estimator empowers homeowners to plan smartly and empowers banks to capture that value, creating a win-win partnership built on data-driven insight.

Raf Howery

Raf Howery is the founder and CEO of Kukun. Howery, a self-professed "serial renovator" and entrepreneur, started Kukun to transform the home remodeling industry from an offline, fragmented, and frustrating undertaking to an online, modern, and user-friendly experience.

Published June 18, 2025