Report: Where Homeowners Turn for Maintenance Advice in 2024
Let's face it: maintaining a healthy, functional home can feel overwhelming. According to our 2023 Housepower Report, 46% of homeowners said they dealt with an unexpected issue in their homes in the last 12 months.
Our recent survey of homeowners shed light on the challenges many face when dealing with repairs and upkeep. From finding trustworthy professionals to navigating limited time for research, the process can be stressful and confusing.
Below, we dive deeper into these challenges and offer solutions to help build confidence throughout your journey as a homeowner.
Key takeaways
- 92% of homeowners have at least one home maintenance project they wouldn’t attempt themselves.
- While a significant 82% of respondents believe they're knowledgeable about their home's health, more than one third (36%) of homeowners are turning to non-professional family and friends without formal expertise for home maintenance and repair advice.
- About 65% of homeowners said it's difficult to find a trustworthy home repair professional, and about 66% said it's difficult to predict home repair costs.
- Nearly 75% of homeowners said they would keep their homes healthier if they had on-demand support.
65% of homeowners struggle to find trustworthy home pros
Unexpected repairs can quickly turn the dream of a perfectly functional home into a stressful scramble. Our survey revealed a significant challenge for homeowners: finding trustworthy professionals and accurately predicting repair costs.
According to our survey, about 65% of homeowners said it’s difficult to find a trustworthy home repair professional, and about 66% said it's difficult to predict home repair costs.
This might explain why 36% of homeowners choose to tackle DIY home maintenance and repairs, and 32% are cutting back on discretionary spending, according to our 2023 Housepower Report.
92% of homeowners have at least one home repair or maintenance project they wouldn’t attempt themselves
Our survey found that 92% of homeowners have at least one project they wouldn’t attempt themselves, highlighting a healthy understanding of their home maintenance and repair limitations.
It also revealed a disconnect between homeowners' perceived knowledge and their actual investment in learning about home maintenance. While a significant 82% of respondents believe they're knowledgeable about their home's health, more than one third (36%) of homeowners are turning to non-professional family and friends without formal expertise for home maintenance and repair advice.
However, the gap between self-perceived knowledge and leaning on the advice of those in your inner circle who may not be a home professional suggests a potential for underestimating the complexity of some maintenance tasks. This can lead to unsuccessful DIY projects, potentially resulting in more extensive (and expensive) repairs down the line.
To avoid this, homeowners stand to benefit from the ability to talk one-on-one with live experts who can help diagnose issues, give advice, and determine whether calling in professional help is warranted.
3 out of 4 homeowners would keep their home in better shape if they had on-demand support
Our survey uncovered a clear desire for more readily available home maintenance support. Nearly 75% of homeowners indicated they'd be more proactive in keeping their homes healthy if they had access to on-demand expert advice. This sentiment resonates with the challenges many homeowners face:
- Limited time: Juggling work, family, and other commitments often leaves little time for extensive research or DIY projects—17% of our respondents spent just 1-2 hours annually researching home maintenance and repairs.
- Knowledge gap: Even with good intentions, homeowners might lack the specific knowledge to diagnose certain issues or tackle complex repairs.
- Financial concerns: Unexpected repairs can strain budgets, especially in a tight economic climate. This rang true in our Summer Home Maintenance survey, which found that affordability was the top challenge impacting homeowners’ ability to complete home maintenance and repairs.
This also aligns with findings in our Summer Home Maintenance survey, where homeowners reported difficulty deciding whether to DIY projects or hire a pro (30%) and making time to research, plan, or complete projects (29%).
For these reasons, it makes sense that 63% of homeowners would prefer on-demand advice from a home maintenance and repair expert, according to our survey. The Hippo Home mobile app can be a great resource for those looking for hands-on support in diagnosing problems and identifying solutions to keep your home in good shape.
Proactive maintenance is key to helping prevent small issues from turning into major headaches (and expenses) down the road. If you need help getting ahead of home maintenance tasks, the Hippo Home app gives you access to home maintenance plans and experts 24/7 to help you make more informed decisions about your home’s health.
Methodology
The survey was conducted by SurveyMonkey Audience for Hippo Insurance Services. The survey was fielded on April 23, 2024. The results are based on 1,117 completed surveys. In order to qualify, respondents were screened to be residents of the United States, over 18 years of age, and own a home. Data is unweighted, and the margin of error is approximately +/-3% for the overall sample with a 95% confidence level.
Disclaimers
YourHaus, Inc. ("Hippo Home") is an affiliate of Hippo Insurance Services. Services (including all repair or maintenance services) provided to customers through affiliated and unaffiliated third-party contractors. Your use of Hippo Home is subject to Hippo Home's terms and conditions and privacy policies. Use of unaffiliated third-party vendors is subject to the terms of service provided by such third party. Hippo Insurance Services is not responsible for your use/non-use of Hippo Home or any service vendor. @ YourHaus, Inc. 2023
Hippo Insurance Services ("Hippo") is a general agent for affiliated and non-affiliated insurance companies. Hippo is licensed as a property casualty insurance agency in all states in which products are offered. Availability and qualification for coverage, terms, rates, and discounts may vary by jurisdiction. We do not in any way imply that the materials on the site or products are available in jurisdictions in which we are not licensed to do business or that we are soliciting business in any such jurisdiction. Coverage under your insurance policy is subject to the terms and conditions of that policy. Coverage and coverage amounts selected are the decision of the buyer.
This guidance and advice is not error-proof and not applicable to every home. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and neither Hippo nor Hippo Home is responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance.
