One in Three Regret DIYing a Home Improvement Project

SEATTLE, November 24, 2015 — Three quarters of homeowners completed a do-it-yourself ("DIY") project in the past three years. However, nearly 40 percent of them wish they hadn't, according to a new survey from home design site, Zillow Digs®.

Attempting to add or expand a room to a home, such as a bathroom or bedroom, was the biggest DIY regret among homeowners surveyed, with more than half of respondents (53 percent) unhappy with some aspect of the project. Homeowners had fewest regrets around minor projects like replacing light fixtures or cabinet hardware. Less than 20 percent of homeowners regretted taking on those projects.

While many people choose to tackle home improvement projects themselves to save money, nearly a quarter of those surveyed said their DIY project went over budget. This was especially true for larger-scale renovations, like building a new deck or refinishing a basement. Instead, DIYers were more likely to stay within budget on smaller projects such as painting or replacing plumbing fixtures.

"With seemingly endless DIY tips and how-to videos available today, home improvement projects appear easier and more accessible than ever before," says Kerrie Kelly, Zillow Digs home design expert. "While some DIY projects can save you money, involving a professional for larger-scale projects, especially those that require specialized skills, can help eliminate headaches and costly mistakes."

Zillow Digs surveyed homeowners from around the country to find which popular DIY home improvement projects people regretted the most and least. The survey also identified which projects homeowners were most likely to go over budget, with and without professional help.

Top 10 most regretted home improvement projects:

Top 5 least regretted home improvement projects:

About Zillow Digs

Zillow Digs is a hub for home improvement and design inspiration. Users can browse more than three million photos of interiors and exteriors of real homes, organized by space, style, cost and color. Product tags allow users to easily locate similar products and accessories as seen in their favorite photos, and patent-pending Digs Estimates help people understand what it would cost to recreate the actual bathrooms and kitchens they are viewing. In addition, Zillow Digs users can collect images, share favorites and follow others for inspiration, from the Zillow Digs App for iPhone® and iPad®, or on the Web.

Zillow

Zillow® is the leading real estate and rental marketplace dedicated to empowering consumers with data, inspiration and knowledge around the place they call home, and connecting them with the best local professionals who can help. Zillow serves the full lifecycle of owning and living in a home: buying, selling, renting, financing, remodeling and more. In addition to Zillow.com®, Zillow operates the most popular suite of mobile real estate apps, with more than two dozen apps across all major platforms. Launched in 2006, Zillow is owned and operated by Zillow Group and headquartered in Seattle.