SHEFFIELD, United Kingdom — Has the quintessential handyman become a thing of the past? Homeowners used to take pride in repairing and maintaining their homes all by themselves, but a recent survey of 2,000 young British adults finds that many still need assistance with the simplest of tasks — like changing a light bulb!
Unbelievably, some respondents even admitted to simply leaving a dead light bulb in place for more than three weeks before finally mustering up the courage to ask for some help. Other simple fixes that respondents said they can’t accomplish alone included putting up wallpaper, draining a radiator, painting, tightening up a loose cabinet door, and fixing a loose screw.
Less than 25% of survey participants would call themselves “good” at DIY skills, and 13% (about 1 in 8) flat out said their skills are “poor.”
The research, which was commissioned by Plusnet, also noted that a full third of millennials seek out help on the easiest of household chores mostly because they’re sure they’ll mess things up if they attempt it themselves. Another 25% don’t even try such tasks alone because they know someone else would be far better suited for the job, 10% don’t have the patience for home improvement, and 14% just don’t have the time apparently.
So, who do most young adults look to for help? You guessed it, dear old dad (40%). Meanwhile, 16% usually ask their mother or brother for help first.
Besides actual people, though, there’s “someone” else that the vast majority (87%) of millennials flock to in the event of house trouble: Google.
Meanwhile, 41% usually just call up a professional repairman.
If one thing is clear from this survey it’s this: modern young adults just don’t feel the need to learn these skills. A full 25% would much rather just pay someone to perform a maintenance job than get their hands dirty themselves. As such, the average millennial spends $409.76 annually on home repairs.
On that note, respondents were asked what plays into their decision when choosing a tradesman; 15% go for the best price, but 25% seek out the best online reviews. Another third won’t hire a handyman if their website looks cheap and 40% will avoid a repair business if their website is non-functional.
Many (30%) even turn to social media for repair help, with most looking over Facebook before other platforms.
Electricians are the most commonly called repair services used (42%), followed by plumbers (37%). Also, 17% regularly call an interior decorator, and 11% call a blinds fitter frequently.
The survey was conducted by OnePoll.