Young Homeowners Are DIY-ing More, According to a New Survey

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Updating your home takes time, money, skills, knowledge, and perseverance. Given these requirements, we often think of older generations of homeowners as more likely to roll up their sleeves to tackle DIY home improvements and repairs. But the tide is changing, as more industry research now shows how younger homeowners are becoming more engaged and dedicated to DIY home projects. 

Despite having lower levels of home equity and net worth, Millennials lead in annual home improvement spending, with one in five spending more than $5,000 on projects, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute. Spending declines with each older generation: Millennials spend 51 percent more than Gen X; Gen X spends 32 percent more than Boomers; and Boomers spend around 9 percent more than the Silent Generation.

A new survey from Craftsman, the Driven to DIY Report, explores the reasons behind this market and cultural shift. It reflects on data collected from 1,000 young homeowners between the ages of 25 and 40 who have recently completed renovations or home improvement projects. Even during this time of economic uncertainty, these younger DIYers feel confident and are more motivated than ever to take on home improvement projects. In fact, more than three-fourths of those surveyed feel confident they’ll complete their planned projects in 2025. 

Learn what is motivating these younger homeowners to focus on DIY, the types of projects they pursue, the challenges they face, and how they can overcome those challenges. 

Motivations for Millennial and Gen Z Homeowners to DIY

These younger generations of DIYers stand out because of what fuels their motivation. They are not DIYing just to save money. Instead, emotional factors play a major role for them in taking on DIY projects and seeing them to fruition. 

With 67 percent of DIYers acknowledging that a sense of accomplishment and pride pushes them to complete the projects they start, it’s clear that they are also driven by a vision and desire to transform their space and themselves in the process, even when obstacles arise. 

They also note how seeing what they can achieve helps build confidence, which encourages them to take on additional projects. Nearly 80 percent of respondents said they feel happy and fulfilled when a project is completed, and this makes them want to do more. Sixty-five percent feel motivated to begin another project, and 59 percent are ready to tackle something bigger and more complex than before.

Common Projects Young Homeowners Are Tackling

These young homeowners are going all in when it comes to DIY projects they are working on in their homes. They are not simply focusing on the easy tasks, either. Instead, they are stretching themselves and using all the tools in their tool box to aim high. 

Here are the top projects young DIYers are working on, according to the Craftsman survey, in order of popularity:  

Potential Setbacks They Are Facing

Despite feeling confident at the start, many DIYers face unexpected challenges that can quickly complicate a project. For example, what begins as a simple project to replace a bathroom fixture could turn into a major plumbing issue.  

According to the survey, 38 percent of DIYers drastically underestimate how long a project will take, and 35 percent find themselves unexpectedly taking on additional tasks. The main challenges that young DIYers face tend to pertain to skills and knowledge gaps, issues with time management, and budgeting faux pas. Thirty-four percent cite estimating costs as the hardest part of the project, and they often find themselves spending more money than anticipated. 

However, these setbacks rarely stop DIYers from moving forward. Those surveyed report completely abandoning only 2 percent of projects. They even admit to sacrificing personal time to keep their home projects on track. 

Tips for Addressing Setbacks

Even with all the challenges, younger DIYers can find support to build new skills and move their projects forward successfully. Indeed, the report found a strong pattern of problem-solving and collaboration among younger renovators. Here are some of the ways they work through challenges: 

• Collaborate with others. Most (84 percent) survey respondents seek help from partners, friends, and parents for both logistical and emotional support. 
• Watch tutorials. Before starting a new DIY project, they review video tutorials to learn the best techniques. YouTube is the most popular learning tool, with 67 percent of the respondents saying it is their favorite digital resource. 
• Ask for input. Those surveyed turn to their personal networks to learn new home improvement skills, including parents (45 percent) and friends (31 percent). 
• Set a realistic timeline. It’s best to avoid scheduling a project around a big event or holiday and to factor in additional time for unforeseen issues or delays. 
• Be smart about the budget. The most successful DIYers build in an additional 10 to 20 percent of the total project budget to account for unexpected costs.

 

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