GOLDEN, Colo. -- February 17, 2010 -- ServiceMagic.com found that during the fourth quarter of 2009, homeowners actually increased their number of home remodeling service requests by more than 37 percent over the same period in 2008, according to its nationwide Q4 2009 Home Remodeling and Repair Index. Furthermore, the report showed tremendous spikes in home improvement activity in the states with the highest foreclosure rates.

Interestingly, the four of the states hit hardest by foreclosures in 2009 (Arizona, California, Florida and Illinois) displayed incredible growth in the number of additions and remodels that took place. Requested home additions and remodels in Miami increased a massive 110 percent more than the same quarter in 2008. Core projects in the kitchen also increased:

166 percent in Phoenix

120 percent in Chicago

112 percent in San Jose, Calif.