The ranks of do-it-yourselfers seem to be growing, but not for every category. The Home Improvement Research Institute reports that two thirds of projects are completely DIY today, with interior painting and landscaping leading the way for homeowners going it alone.
More homeowners are tackling simple home projects themselves.
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Painting projects are greatly assisted by paint store and home center paint department staff helping consumers choose the right supplies for their job, and by Internet advice on color selection. Paint manufacturers are also facilitating DIY design by packaging color schemes that take the guesswork out of choosing the right hues.
Landscaping projects can be supported in much the same way, with plants tagged for light and water needs, and with return-friendly policies. Pre-assembled container gardens at many retail outlets are also extremely DIY-friendly.
As noted previously, DIYers are much more likely to be Millennials than other age groups. These online-engaged homeowners are using YouTube and other Internet tutorials to tackle home projects that their parents might have hired out. HIRI reported in its 2018 Product Purchase Tracking Study that nearly a quarter of the U.S. population made home improvements in the last year (leading up to the association’s 2018 conference), and only seven percent used a professional to complete them.
One hesitation many consumers have in hiring home improvement professionals, the group adds, is cost-related. “Many homeowners do not understand the cost of hiring professionals. In fact, nearly one-third underestimate the final cost.”
Not surprisingly, homeowners are far less confident in taking on DIY projects that are more complex, HIRI says: “When it comes to replacing roofs and siding, replacing windows or remodeling kitchens, homeowners are more likely to contract with a pro.” These are also the types of projects that involve unexpected surprises that add to their cost, like an electrical panel that needs to be upgraded to meet code, something that a homeowner may not realize or act upon, (with potentially unsatisfying outcomes). “Project costs increase significantly when professionals are involved and tend to grow with their level of involvement,” HIRI notes.
So which home improvement services have the highest demand, and who is demanding them? “Homeowners hire professionals for both convenience and knowledge, with nearly half of the services purchased by those who are unable to do the work themselves,” the group reports. This includes mature adults who may be less physically able to perform the tasks, as well as those in higher income groups who may lack the time to complete them.
Service purchasers increase from 40.9 percent of those with less than $35,000 in income to 61.9 percent for those with a $75,000 household income. Service purchases are also higher for seniors (65 percent) over Gen X (53.4 percent) and Millennials (57.1 percent). This mature cohort is likeliest to have a family member helping them from a distance, particularly if the elder relative lives in an older home needing more maintenance or accessibility features added for safety.
“The most common service purchase is nearly split between convenience and knowledge,” HIRI says. “Lawn/landscaping and insect/pest control are typically convenience services, while HVAC and plumbing repair are more knowledge-based.”
Geography makes a difference, too. “The South and West regions have a much higher level of service usage than the Midwest and Northeast,” HIRI observes. These areas might correlate with labor costs and availability of workers. Overall, the top services purchased, according to HIRI’s research, are:
- Lawn/landscaping
- HVAC repair/maintenance
- Insect/pest control
- Plumbing install/repair
- Handyman services.
“In the last decade, the use of home services has been steadily rising,” HIRI reports. “More than 10 percent of homeowners are utilizing home services. This amounted to a nearly 40 percent increase in total number of services purchased in a year.” So while the youngest homeowners are confidently tackling their own home projects, their aging parents and grandparents are taking advantage of services available in the community. Both of these age groups add up to the largest demographics in the country, accounting for the split in DIY vs. pro. Where do you fit in?