How Confident Are Americans About DIY Home Repairs?

Approximately 3 in 4 homeowners always try to fix an issue themselves before finding a professional, but how much do they know about fixing their own homes? 

In a survey of nearly 1,000 U.S. homeowners, conducted late last year by American Home Shield, 87% of respondents said they experienced a home maintenance issue in the last year that required a professional. However, 33% said they couldn’t afford an emergency repair costing over $1,000, and 59% said they’d put off a necessary repair due to cost. 

Additionally, 42% have ignored a home maintenance issue due to cost anxiety, and of them, 26% reported that procrastinating made the problem worse. 

High repair costs combined with a lack of home-repair savings often leads homeowners to turn to DIY options. However, doing it yourself isn’t always the most efficient solution, especially when you lack the knowledge to complete a repair successfully. 

Although the majority of homeowners said they try DIY before turning to a professional, 92% said they wished they knew how to repair more things around the house, and 96% said home maintenance basics should be taught in school. 

A lack of home maintenance and repair knowledge may contribute to the fact that 17% damaged their home and/or appliances by trying to DIY, with an average damage cost of $599. The top issues homeowners were the least confident in fixing were: 

1. Electrical (71%) 
2. Roof (52%) 
3. HVAC (49%) 
4. Plumbing (46%) 
5. Structure/walls/ceiling (28%) 

But their confidence has been boosted significantly by one modern innovation: YouTube. 

The survey found that 77% of homeowners use social media to help with DIY home repairs, and of them, 87% choose YouTube. Compared to written instructions, 92% said they preferred an explainer video. Additionally, 97% said social media repair instructions are high quality, and 95% recommend the teaching method for DIY repairs. 

Social media and YouTube repair tutorials have helped many homeowners save money and learn a thing or two. On average, homeowners saved $2,128 by using social media as a DIY repair guide.