Return comes first: this is how Hungarian households renovate today

By 2026, home renovation will clearly have become an investment decision. Decisions are not determined by aesthetic considerations, but by quick payback, energy efficiency and long-term reduction in operating costs. The purchase of large household appliances is also increasingly a conscious, strategic decision, which in its logic follows the approach of corporate investments.

According to the research, the majority of renovations do not involve a complete transformation: households are thinking about targeted developments step by step. The goal is clear: lower overheads, greater comfort, long-term savings.

The Hungarian consumer does not save – he invests

Today, purchasing large appliances is no longer an impulse or a matter of prestige: energy efficiency is the most important decision-making criterion (41%), followed by technological sophistication and easy-to-use, practical functions. Design was at the bottom of the ranking in all age groups, which clearly shows the strengthening of the rational approach.

Large computers are clearly considered a larger investment, 59% of respondents would invest between 100,000 and 250,000 forints in the most suitable device for them, but a fifth of those surveyed would also spend over 250,000 forints.

Generation differences and return on investment

Half of those over 60 primarily monitor consumption, while this rate is only 24 percent for those aged 16-29. For younger people, technological experience and functionality are more important, and they are also the most open to environmentally conscious replacements.

Caution when buying online

Interest in large machines is growing, but many people consider the risks when buying online: damage during shipping, size issues, or the product looking different in person. Despite this, 27 percent of respondents see no concerns about ordering online, indicating that trust is growing – especially when it is accompanied by reliable information and safe delivery.

No replacement without a return

Financial rationality continues to override emotional decisions: 32 percent of respondents would only replace a working machine if its cost would be recovered within 2-3 years. More than half of them would not switch just for the promise of lower consumption.

“Our research clearly shows that Hungarian households now view renovation and the replacement of large appliances as an investment. That is why we consider it crucial that our expert colleagues help them choose the right, energy-efficient appliance, and encourage customers to return their old appliances and choose more modern solutions instead. For devices such as washing machines or refrigerators, which we use every day, this is a rational decision: a conscious choice can pay off in a few years, and in the long term it means tangible savings for households”

– said Márton Rózsa, Commercial Director of MediaMarkt.

Conscious shopping

Sustainability also appears in decisions: 35 percent of households would recycle the replaced appliance, while 40 percent of 16-29 year olds would rather sell it to recoup part of the investment.

In the “luxury” category, status products are not attractive either: the robot vacuum cleaner with mopping function and the dryer are the most sought-after, while there is minimal interest in, for example, a wine cooler. This shows that Hungarians would spend on “luxury” appliances that truly make everyday life easier and reduce everyday burdens.

A deliberate opening towards Artificial Intelligence

Nearly half of Hungarians are interested in household appliances controlled by artificial intelligence, but most still want more information about actual savings and data protection before making a decision. Openness to AI is not clearly age-dependent: the most open are the 40-49 year old “digital natives” who already know the benefits of smart devices, but younger and older people are more cautious, mainly due to the safety and real usefulness of the technology.