Health, security, budget risks that you cannot ignore

Almost three quarters (71%) The homeowners have delayed a planned project this year, with inflation, high interest rates and economic concerns for their shift. This was one of the findings of an online survey in April 2025 among 1,000 respondents who had stopped a specialist for a project last year, which was carried out for Angi for the homeown platform. The effects of these delays can affect the health and safety of the owners as well as the structural integrity and the resale value of their houses.

Delayed projects

The two project owners would improve first if they had no budget restrictions that kitchen conversions (31%) had, followed by bathroom conversions (22%), then outdoors (13%) (13%). Improvements in one of these three could make a home more comfortable, functional, accessible, safe, healthy and valuable, since they are also prioritized by the home buyers. “Even with delays, there is a strong wish to improve important areas of the house,” reports the survey.

Chris Desino, owner of Ocala Horse Properties in Central Florida, sees this in his market, he says, and older homeowners delay the installation more accessible showering, non-slip-free floors and grad bars. “You would feel safer and stay in your houses for longer with these modifications.” They postpone concerns about the increasing costs of the modifications, despite the even greater potential costs of a stormy hospital bill. Dessino expects these delays that will continue until 2025, apart from economic trust this year. “The need remains. Fear and uncertainty are the only reasons why they are delayed,” he claims.

An interesting and somewhat counterintuitive determination from the survey is an observation of younger owners and owners of younger houses (less than 20 years). Both groups have already taken over improvements such as kitchen renovation or smart -home -upgrades this year. “In fact, they started kitchen conversion more than twice as often or installed a smart home device at the age of 50,” the survey said.

It is possible that this is a bit DIY-controlled, with younger owners reduce labor costs by taking on the work itself. It is also possible that you see a longer time horizon in your houses than older residents who may think about downsizing or moving near your adult children's families in the next few years (a trend called “Baby-Chasing”).

Prioritization of maintenance

Angi results included 62% of the respondents more about the costs of maintaining their houses than at the end of 2024, and 48% stated that the stress of repairs at home has increased since January. “This corresponds to what we have seen in our 2024 report, in which the maintenance is already the top source for budget-related stress and even exceeded health care, childcare and debts,” the survey said.

Rising costs cause homeowners to choose cheaper materials and services, bundle repairs in order to potentially reduce labor costs and start projects earlier to avoid expected price increases, Angi states. The prioritization of maintenance makes sense from security.

For example, Angie Hicks, co-founder and chief customer of the company, emphasizes: “By continuously up to date, for example, as the gutters, the maintenance of HLK systems and the review for LECKSKONNNNEN Homeowners reduce unexpected emergencies and restore a feeling of control and soul peace.”

Related risks

Some maintenance projects contain considerable investments and are also postponed, Dessino shares. He saw how several owners have shifted the strengthening of the storm windows and the repair of electrical problems. “Many people choose a better financial circumstances and hope that they are of crucial importance for the security, especially in Florida,” he comments.

The roofing is a repair that is postponed. “Recently, families who withdraw in houses with over 20-year-old shingles. They hope to stretch another season, even with visible curls or active leaks in valleys. It is risky. Water gets into the mutation and insulation, which triples the repair costs within six months.”

Customers are concerned about the loss of jobs and a narrower credit, he suggests. He even sees how customers hold the repairs back after recognizing damage signs such as the attic moisture. “Some had a mold spread near the ventilation slots, but still endured at work.”

Hicks agrees that stuck maintenance can lead to health and security risks for the residents of a house. “Water damage is both a structural threat and a health risk, since persistent moisture can lead to mold, which worsens allergies and breathing problems.” Intelligently placed leak detectors can master some of these challenges and also provide insurance policy discounts.

The Angi owner also warns: “The landscape design can be overgrown or the dead vegetation can be accumulated, the fuel load increases by a house and increases the risk of wild fire.”

Last words

“I think people scale or press a break because they are afraid of blocking high material costs or losing flexibility,” theoretizes Hull and adds.