Consumers have DIY-ed some 113 million home improvement projects in recent years, according to Census Bureau data. Going the do-it-yourself route on your next home repair could cut costs substantially. Are you a handy person?

 

Younger homeowners were more likely to tackle projects on their own, with those ages 25 to 29 DIY-ing a majority of the time.

“The younger you are, you tend to be making less money and have fewer savings, and so you’re doing a lot yourself,” they said.

 

There’s certainly a financial incentive to tackle home projects solo. Take a bathroom to remodel, for example. NerdWallet found the median DIY expense was $1,500, versus $5,500 with a professional.

 

Consumers were most likely to attempt a do-it-yourself job on a bedroom renovation or landscaping project. They are least likely to make a solo attempt at repairing or replacing their roof.

 

That caution is for the best.

A little more than 4 in 10 homeowners in the report ‘fessed up to botching a DIY home project. 35 percent said a home improvement show influenced them to take on a project that ended badly.

NerdWallet 2018 Home Improvement Report

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