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The DIY Projects Homeowners Are Most Confident (and Least Confident) They Could Do

Jessica Wang
Jessica Wang
Jessica is a writer and former weekend editor at Apartment Therapy. Her work also appears in Bustle, Nylon, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, and more. She lives in Southern California with her dog.
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published Oct 25, 2020
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Listen. We can’t all be Chip and Joanna Gaines. A few “Fixer Upper” episodes might have convinced you that, yes, you could totally undertake a home demo all on your lonesome, but the fact of the matter is certain things might be better left to professionals. With that in mind, Sears Home Services recently conducted a survey to determine which home projects are worth DIYing and which are not. The company spoke to over a thousand homeowners to assess their confidence levels in particular undertakings—and also determined the particular projects that had more positive outcomes. 

Nearly 60% of homeowners have taken on a home project since the beginning of the pandemic in March, according to Sears. So, how did the homeowners fare? The results vary. Some of the more successful DIY projects include repainting the walls, installing a new mirror or shelf, installing flooring and tile, and replacing appliances like faucets. Some of the projects that had a negative outcome, on the other hand, include installing under-cabinet lighting and drywall and waterproofing a deck. 

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Credit: Sears Home Services

The top projects that homeowners had no confidence in doing themselves include running a gas line (55% of participants), repairing a roof (47%), installing new windows (44%), and insulating walls (33%). These certainly sound like projects that would require extra care and expertise to ensure no room for mistakes. And according to Sears’ report, about 46% of DIY homeowners admitted to needing a professional to redo their work, which would cost over $1,600 on average. 

Of course, the main reason that homeowners take on DIY projects is the desire to save money. Saving on dough is certainly always the best option, but it’s also important to weigh the possibilities of mishaps. Underestimating the time and effort needed for a project and feeling dissatisfied with the finished product are a few things to consider, per the study. If the odds are looking in your favor, though, by all means, DIY away.

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Decor & Accessories
DIY
Renovating