More than 80% of homeowners plan to take on DIY maintenance in 2026, driven largely by cost savings, even though only 34% say they can complete basic projects with confidence, Hippo has reported.
Hippo’s 2026 Housepower findings show homeowners increasingly intend to handle maintenance themselves. Among those planning DIY work, 57% said saving money is the main reason. Others cited personal accomplishment (36%) and learning a new skill (30%). Even with that interest, only 34% of homeowners said they can complete basic DIY projects with some confidence. The survey also found 57% of homeowners in 2025 said they did not prioritize home maintenance enough.
Commonly missed preventive tasks included inspecting seals in areas prone to water damage (75%), HVAC servicing (71%), plumbing checks (69%) and gutter cleaning (69%). In 2025, the most common home problems were plumbing issues (34%), appliance breakdowns (32%) and critical system failures (23%).
Home-related costs affected budgets in 2025, with 76% of responding homeowners saying at least one home-related issue impacted their financial stability. Gen Z reported the highest strain at 85%, compared with 67% of Baby Boomers. Unexpected repairs alone affected 33% of homeowners.
Maintenance budgets moved lower. The share budgeting $500-$4,500 annually rose to 58% in 2025 from 39% in 2024, while those budgeting $6,501 or more fell to 14% from 35%. Nearly one in five homeowners (18%) reported not budgeting for maintenance at all, about double the prior year.
The survey found 57% of homeowners purchased previously owned homes, and 51% said their homes were built before 1990. With the median US home now 40 years old, Hippo said seasonal maintenance is critical to preventing costly damage.
Homeowners reported rising exposure to heat waves (34%), strong winds or tornadoes (27%) and cold weather or frost (24%). Only 32% said they felt confident preparing for extreme weather events, a 19-point decline from 2024.
Homeowners reporting more confidence were more likely to have purchased add-on insurance coverage, or a rider (66%). Gen Z reported the highest adoption, with 76% purchasing at least one rider, followed by Millennials (68%), Gen X (59%) and Boomers (49%). Common riders included replacement cost coverage, flood insurance, and water backup or sump pump overflow protection.
In 2026, homeowners cited rising maintenance and repair costs (36%), home upgrades (34%), and home insurance and protection plans (24%) as top concerns. Nearly 50% plan to use AI to research and better understand insurance options. Half of homeowners (50%) advised prospective buyers to budget for regular maintenance and unexpected repairs, while 35% recommended researching financing options and ways to manage mortgage payments.
“Homeowners are feeling better about their homes than they have in years, but that sentiment is being tested by rising costs and growing gaps in preparedness,” Hippo president and CEO Rick McCathron said.
