Thirty-two percent of American homeowners have at least one home improvement project they're putting off, a new poll finds. (iStock)
Do you have a home improvement project that you’re been putting off? Maybe you've been meaning to repaint the bedroom, or finally lay down that new carpet but just haven't been able to find the time?
Well, you're not alone, because according to a new study, 32 percent of homeowners have been putting off at least one home improvement job for 12 months or more — and the average American home has nine DIY jobs that desperately need attention, according to new research.
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The study of 2,000 American homeowners, conducted by Porch.com, sought to uncover America’s “to-do list” around the home, as well as understand where homeowners make the biggest investments in their homes.
The findings show that the payoff can be worth it, but it can also take a tremendous amount of work to keep the average American home in shape.
Granted, some houses probably require more than others. (iStock)
For example, the average home has nine repairs, or DIY jobs, that need to be completed, with 57 percent of homeowners feeling their home was still a “work in progress.”
In fact, only 10 percent of homeowners felt they were completely on top of their home maintenance tasks.
A new coat of paint — the most popular job that needs to be done around the house — with 55 percent of homeowners saying it was on their to-do list — followed by remodeling the bathroom (33 percent) and installing new carpet (28 percent).
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Despite having a big to-do list, the average homeowner in the study has already spent over $9,000 in home repairs and maintenance, with one in five homeowners having spent $13,000 or more.
Then again, some likely spent nothing at all. (iStock)
"Homeowners often underestimate the investment needed just to maintain the quality of their home, and if they are not willing to make that investment, it can lead to much larger costs down the road," said Matt Ehrlichman, the CEO of Porch.com, of the study results.
It was also found that 55 percent of homeowners tend to try to tackle a job themselves first, rather than call a professional. However, the chances of DIY success can be slim. The survey found that only 31 percent of homeowners said their DIY projects have been successfully completed without major problems.
Still, this factor is not a deterrent, as the average homeowner cited spending at least six hours every week working on various house projects and maintenance tasks.
But just because they put in the time, that doesn’t mean it all gets done or done well, as 32 percent of homeowners admit to starting a job around the house and abandoning it halfway through after it proved to be too much, a sentiment echoed in Porch’s Millennial Home Buying Report.
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That might be why the average homeowner completes just four DIY jobs in a typical year.
Being unwilling to spend the proper money on repairs and maintenance turns out to be a pretty big reason why homes are perpetual works in progress, with 42 percent of homeowners admitting they’ve postponed a repair or maintenance task because it proved to be too expensive.
America's To-Do List: The Nation's Top 20 Home Improvement Tasks
- New paint: 55 percent
- Bathroom remodel: 30 percent
- New carpet: 28 percent
- Landscaping: 27 percent
- Kitchen remodel: 27 percent
- Drywall repair: 25 percent
- Fix/replace door(s): 23 percent
- Fix/replace window(s): 22 percent
- Flooring repair: 21 percent
- Roof repair: 20 percent
- Deck/patio repair/installation: 20 percent
- Re-caulking: 20 percent
- Fix/replace faucet(s): 16 percent
- Lighting installation: 15 percent
- New tiling: 15 percent
- Fix leak: 14 percent
- Fix/replace tub/shower: 14 percent
- Fix/replace toilet(s): 14 percent
- Fix/replace plumbing: 12 percent
- Siding repair: 12 percent