What Are Renovators Stressed About? Depends on Where They Live

Are you a homeowner feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of renovation stress? Our survey sheds light on the common anxieties experienced by many. From budgeting to decision-making, navigating the renovation process can be a daunting task. But don’t worry! This blog post explores the survey results, offering practical tips to help you conquer stress and achieve a smooth and successful renovation. Let’s dive in and discover how to turn your home improvement dreams into a reality!

As a platform with thousands of completed projects, Sweeten is committed to minimizing the stress of renovation. We achieve this by offering essential tools like budget calculators, estimate comparisons, and payment management. Additionally, we carefully match homeowners with top-tier general contractors, provide dedicated project oversight, and share inspiring success stories.

To gain a deeper understanding of homeowners’ renovation concerns, we partnered with the Schlesinger Group to conduct our second national renovation stress study. This survey, encompassing past, current, and future renovators in seven major U.S. cities, revealed the factors that contribute to renovation anxiety and how people approach large-scale projects.

At Sweeten, we’re experts at all things general contractors — we pre-screen them for our network, carefully select the best ones for your remodeling project, and work closely with hundreds of general contractors every day. So, we’ve tapped our internal expertise to bring you this guide.

While it’s no surprise that 85% of homeowners find remodeling stressful (with Los Angeles leading the pack as ‘extremely stressful’), the survey uncovered intriguing geographic variations and provided valuable insights. By carefully analyzing these findings, we’re able to identify pain points and develop solutions that make the renovation process more transparent and less stressful.

1. Planning is the most stressful stage.

Yes, even more than demolition or relocation. Fifty-nine percent of those surveyed placed planning in their top three most stressful renovation steps. The good news? Our blog has plenty of guides on pricing, timing, and other must-knows to make renovation easier. 

2. Going over budget is a top concern—but most people don’t do that.

It’s not so surprising, but important nonetheless. Of those who said they went over budget, the majority actually only spent 10% more than they’d budgeted, so even though missing the money mark is a big-time fear, the amount overspent is less than you’d think. We actually advise renovators to build in a 10% cushion to the budget on all projects. 

NOTE: When you post a project on Sweeten, our platform pre-populates the various elements involved and pricing down to every last detail, from cabinet installation to floor replacement, providing a much simpler way to look at the big picture (and granular) costs. Our platform also provides a bid-leveling service to compare contractor estimates for an apples-to-apples analysis to make the smartest decision for what you’re trying to accomplish.

3. Renovation shows and videos are a major learning source. 

While a renovation is really not like what you see on a 30-minute TV show, 57% of survey participants watch homes transform on TV and/or the Internet. Our advice? Get inspiration and ideas, get a sense of what a post-demolition space looks like—but don’t make assumptions about how your own project or experience will turn out based on the made-for-screen remodels. (You don’t REALLY believe you can overhaul your living space in 48 hours, right?)

4. Men are more trusting; women need a call.

When it comes to general contractors (GCs), men have a higher overall opinion of them (68% vs. 62%). Women place the highest importance on contractors returning calls quickly (67% to 58%) and are most often deterred by a contractor who’s difficult to get ahold of (67% to 58%). 

At Sweeten, we agree that communication and chemistry are key!

5. Where you live affects what you worry about.

Check out our map below!

Dream homes are universal and renovators have similar questions and concerns across various cities nationwide—some might even be ones you have now. Sweeten is a free service matching renovators with vetted general contractors. We also check in with you and the contractor until the project is complete. Read Before + After stories from homeowners to get a personal perspective on their experience.

*The online survey was conducted by research marketing firm Schlesinger Group; it consisted of 875 consumers who had either completed a home renovation within the past 2 years, are currently in the middle of a home remodel, or plan to begin a home remodeling project within the next 6 months. All respondents spent/plan to spend at least $15,000. Markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, and Philadelphia. The previous study was conducted in 2017. For more information, please email [email protected].

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Anxious about your own remodel? First-time homeowners who renovated with Sweeten share their advice and tips here.

Ready to get started?

Post your project on Sweeten for free and make your dream home a reality. Sweeten puts you in control of your renovation, from finding the perfect contractor and gathering design inspiration, to using cost guides  to plan your budget wisely.