Too Much Information, Not Enough Savings: HomeServe Survey Finds Homeowners Overwhelmed, Underfunded and Unprepared for Repair Emergencies

HomeServe, a leading provider of home repair solutions, released the findings of its 2026 State of the Home Survey. The survey reveals that while homeowners face repair emergencies every year, most remain financially unprepared, emotionally overwhelmed and unsure where to turn when something breaks.

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For the first time since HomeServe launched the State of the Home survey in 2015, the survey also examined preparedness and perceptions across five specific generations: The Silent Generation (born 1925-1945), Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964), Generation X (born 1965-1980), Millennials (born 1981-1996), and Generation Z (born 1997-2012).

Frequent Emergencies, Thin Savings

For most homeowners, home repair emergencies aren’t rare misfortunes but an annual reality. And homeowners are facing these emergencies with less money and less confidence.

• More than 80% of homeowners said they experienced at least one home repair emergency in the past 12 months, including blocked or overflowing toilets (27%), an outside water line leak/break or burst pipe (25%), appliance failure or repair (22%) and heating or air conditioning system repair or replacement (22%).

• Many households are financially unprepared. Nearly one in three homeowners (30%) has $500 or less set aside for emergency repairs, including over 12% with nothing saved at all.

• As a result, 56% of homeowners have delayed a repair because they couldn’t afford it, with 18% putting it off for six months or longer.

The Generational Divide

Forty-five percent of all homeowners surveyed said they feel less equipped with practical home skills compared to their parents’ generation, with only 35% feeling more equipped. 60% of Baby Boomers said they feel less equipped – the highest gap – followed by 48% of Millennials, 41% of Gen Z, 37% of Gen X and 24% of the Silent Generation.

Contrary to common assumptions, Baby Boomers reported the least homeowner mentorship when starting out, with 63% receiving little to no guidance or learning entirely on their own. By comparison, 71% of Gen Z, 65% of the Silent Generation, 63% of Gen X and 60% of Millennials reported receiving some or extensive mentorship.

Too Much Information, Still Not Enough Answers

Despite unprecedented access to DIY tutorials and online resources, 74% of homeowners say they’ve felt overwhelmed by the demands of home maintenance, including 33% who frequently feel this way.

• When a home system issue arises, most homeowners (68%) say they turn to online search (Google), followed by 52% asking family or friends, 41% using video tutorials (YouTube, TikTok), 39% contacting a professional service and 27% referring to a homeowner’s manual or appliance manual.

• Confidence in the basics remains shaky: just 48% of homeowners say they feel very confident identifying the source of a common household issue, such as a minor leak or a tripped circuit — a sign that information alone isn’t translating into readiness.

• Homeowners also know their limits. While 71% feel very comfortable with basic maintenance like changing air filters, large majorities say they’d never attempt certain home repairs themselves like electrical wiring (72%), HVAC repairs (61%) or roof repairs (60%).

Closing the Gap

Individually, frequent emergencies, thin savings and a lack of confidence would each be a challenge. Together, they create a compounding effect: an overwhelmed homeowner with little saved is more likely to delay a repair, and a delayed repair is more likely to become a bigger, more expensive emergency down the road. That may be why homeowners overwhelmingly say they want more support, not less.

• Homeowners overwhelmingly want to break the cycle for the next generation. Nearly 79% said it is extremely or very important to teach their children basic home maintenance and repair skills.

• When asked what would most improve their own confidence around the home, respondents pointed to more accessible DIY tutorials and videos (48%), educational workshops or classes (41%), a comprehensive homeowner’s handbook (30%), mentorship from experienced homeowners (26%) and predictive maintenance alerts (20%). Just 12% said they feel adequately prepared and need nothing more.

This survey was conducted between August 4 and August 11, 2026, by HomeServe, using SurveyMonkey Audience. HomeServe’s survey received 2,083 responses from adult homeowners in the U.S. age 18 and older. For more on the SurveyMonkey Audience panel, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/market-research/data-quality/.

About HomeServe USA

HomeServe USA Corp. (HomeServe) is a leading home repair solutions company with more than 4.6 million customers across North America. HomeServe offers protection plans that help shield homeowners from the expense and inconvenience of plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and other home repairs. The company empowers over 1,350 leading municipal and utility partners to educate and advocate for their customers when home repair emergencies strike. HomeServe has an exceptional customer satisfaction rating and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

For more about HomeServe, plus the latest home repair advice and customer stories, head to www.homeserve.com. You can also connect with HomeServe on Facebook @HomeServeUSA, Twitter @HomeServeUSA, Instagram @HomeServe_USA, and LinkedIn @HomeServe-USA.

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