One in Four Homeowners Has $500 or Less for Home Repairs, Survey Shows
NORWALK, Connecticut — HomeServe has released its 2025 State of the Home Survey, revealing widespread financial and infrastructure challenges among U.S. homeowners. The survey of 2,524 adults, including 2,333 homeowners, highlights a lack of preparedness for emergency repairs, rising utility costs, and gaps in knowledge about critical home systems.
According to the findings, one in four homeowners has $500 or less set aside for repairs, with nearly half of that group having no savings at all. When unexpected costs arise, less than half had the funds available, while 14% borrowed money or used credit to cover expenses. As a result, 61% reported delaying repairs, and nearly one-quarter postponed them for six months or longer.
The financial strain extends to utilities. Thirty-eight percent of respondents struggled to pay at least one utility bill in the past year, with electricity, water, and natural gas cited most often. Thirteen percent said more than 20% of their income went toward utility costs.
Repair emergencies are common, with 81% of homeowners experiencing at least one in the last year. Heating and cooling breakdowns, appliance failures, and blocked toilets topped the list. Plumbing pipe breaks were the most feared repair, followed by structural, roof, and sewer line damage.
Finding qualified help for repairs remains a concern. Only 31% of respondents described the process as “very easy,” while 13% said it was somewhat or very difficult. The biggest consequences of repair delays were disruptions to daily life, added costs, and stress in locating reliable contractors.
The survey also pointed to major gaps in knowledge about home infrastructure. Forty-three percent of respondents did not know if their water service line contained lead. Views on who should be responsible for lead line replacement varied widely among utilities, insurers, and government.
Power outages added another layer of concern. Seventy-seven percent of homeowners reported at least one outage lasting more than five minutes in the past year, with 11% experiencing six or more. Nearly two-thirds expressed concern about grid reliability during extreme weather, and an equal share said they have considered or already installed resilience measures such as backup generators, batteries, or solar with storage.
Why This Matters
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Rising repair costs and utility bills are straining household budgets nationwide;
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Homeowners face greater exposure to infrastructure failures as extreme weather events increase; and
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Gaps in knowledge about home systems highlight the need for stronger public education and resources.
What This Means for You and Your Team
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Contractors and service providers will likely see increased demand for affordable, reliable repair options;
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Utility providers may need to expand customer assistance and resilience programs; and
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Policymakers and insurers face growing pressure to address gaps in infrastructure funding and homeowner support.
As such, contractors should emphasize financing options and maintenance plans to ease customer concerns. Training in customer communication and trust-building will be critical as homeowners seek reliable help.