More Than 70 Percent of Homeowners Surveyed Have Delayed a Home Repair or Improvement Due to Their Financial Situation

According to a new study of more than 1,040 American homeowners by Discover Personal Loans, 72 percent have delayed making improvements or repairs to their home due to their financial situation, with 42 percent delaying the project for more than a year. However, when asked whether they were prepared, nearly 54 percent of respondents said they are financially prepared to cover an unexpected home repair.

When asked how much money they have available to pay for an unexpected repair, nearly three in five (59%) homeowners said they don’t have enough funds to pay for a home repair that costs more than $5,000. That number goes up among millennial homeowners (aged 18-34), with 79 percent not being able to cover the same amount.

According to The True Cost of Home Improvement report by Home Advisor, homeowners who don’t have at least $5,000 may not be able to cover some of the most basic home repairs. Larger repairs such as installing an AC unit or new roof can cost up to $10,000 and over $12,000 ¹ respectively.

In addition, planning and budgeting for home repairs appears to be a challenge for homeowners surveyed. Nearly one-third (30 percent) of homeowners said that their last unexpected home repair cost more than what they expected.

"The survey indicates that a significant majority delay home repairs and remodels because of limited savings,” said Dan Matysik, vice president of Discover Personal Loans. "Unfortunately, these delays may cost homeowners more in the long-run with additional repairs. If an unexpected home expense arises, homeowners should consider looking into fixed-rate funding options that provide quick access to funds, such as personal loans, to help complete their projects.”

Interestingly, responses to the survey questions were fairly similar across income brackets. For example, 50 percent of homeowners that earned less than $40,000 delayed a home improvement or repair for more than a year as compared to 46 percent among those making $40,000 to $80,000. Additionally, 34 percent of homeowners that earned more than $80,000 delayed a home improvement or repair for more than a year.

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its direct banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in 190 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.

ABOUT SURVEY

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1045 adults who are homeowners. Fieldwork was undertaken between 22nd - 24th May 2018. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).

¹ https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/true-cost-of-home-improvement/

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