New Construction Homeowners Take on More Maintenance

Homeowners of new construction homes complete more maintenance and spend more on home upkeep than homeowners of existing homes, according to a survey of over 2,000 U.S. homeowners completed by Hippo. The survey aimed to discover the differences between homeowners who recently purchased a new construction home and homeowners who bought or owned an existing home. 

Maintenance Budgets 

Despite the fact that most new construction homeowners (98%) set a maintenance budget for themselves, a majority of 60% reported going “significantly over budget” last year. In comparison, 78% of homeowners with existing homes set maintenance budgets, and only 10% said they exceeded them. 

Return on Investment 

The survey suggested that many new construction homeowners spend more on home maintenance because they are more likely to view their properties as long-term assets. Seventy-four percent of new construction homeowners said protecting or increasing their home’s ROI was a key reason they completed maintenance, compared to only 23% of homeowners of existing homes. 

Other motivations for maintenance included: 

• Maintaining the overall condition of the home (65% new construction, 64% existing) 
• Preventing unexpected repairs and costly damage (50% new construction, 39% existing) 
• Improving the safety of the home (32% new construction, 25% existing) 
• Increasing energy efficiency and lowering utility bills (21% new construction, 23% existing) 
• Avoiding an insurance claim (19% new construction, 7% existing) 

Seasonal Maintenance 

Likewise, the survey found that new construction homeowners were also very invested in upkeeping with seasonal home maintenance. Ninety-nine percent of new construction homeowners reported completing at least one seasonal maintenance task within the past year, and 47% said they completed three to five maintenance tasks (compared to 39% of homeowners of existing homes). 

The most common tasks for new construction homeowners included replacing air filters, inspecting and maintaining gutters and downspouts and cleaning dryer exhaust vents. 

Disaster Preparedness 

Again, the survey found that new construction homeowners were more likely to prioritize disaster preparedness in 2025. When asked how prepared they felt for a natural disaster or severe weather event this year, 79% said they felt very prepared, 17% said they felt somewhat prepared and 3% said they did not feel very prepared. 

In comparison, only 28% of homeowners of existing homes said they felt very prepared, and a majority of 52% said they felt somewhat prepared. Fifteen percent said they did not feel very prepared.