54% of Homeowners Feel Behind on Home Maintenance

Over half of homeowners surveyed said they felt behind on home maintenance, according to a survey by 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, which revealed how homeowners feel socially pressured to take care of their properties. 

It turns out that pressure from neighbors, family and friends can have a significant impact on homeowners’ maintenance plans. 

Of those surveyed, 47% of homeowners said they’ve started worrying about a portion of their home only after a neighbor or friend mentioned their own problem. Home-related anxieties were most commonly triggered by these social factors: 

1. A neighbor mentioning a recent home repair (30%) 
2. Social media (24%) 
3. Seeing a contractor’s truck in the neighborhood (21%) 
4. Visiting friends/family (21%) 
5. Social conversations (19%) 

For Gen Zers, 56% of homeowners reported home anxiety due to social media, and 34% said their anxiety was triggered by a group chat or conversation on NextDoor, the popular neighborhood community platform. 

Overall, homeowners confessed to spending an average of $3,017 due to social pressure around home maintenance, with HOA members spending even more – an average of $4,426. 

Among homeowner friends, the top topics of conversation include: 

1. Maintenance (93%) 
2. Repairs (87%) 
3. Landscaping (62%) 
4. Professional recommendations (50%) 
5. Money anxiety (49%) 

In general, homeownership is a hot topic among 62% of neighbors, including 70% of HOA members and 58% of non-HOA members. HOA members were also more likely to develop a fear of missing maintenance after talking with neighbors (53%). 

The survey garnered other responses that showed the impact of social pressure on home upkeep as well: 

• 58% of homeowners said they compete with their neighbors over landscaping 
• 44% said they compete with their neighbors over curb appeal 
• 36% said they’ve changed their home’s exterior after noticing a neighbor did the same 
• 20% said they’ve purchased home technology like a doorbell camera because their neighbor did so