3 Home Projects Everyone’s Delaying—and What to Prioritize Instead

Experts say homeowners are avoiding costly projects given the state of the economy. Should you follow suit?

Rising inflation and interest rates, coupled with economic uncertainty, have led many homeowners to put off everything from major home renovations to minor repairs, according to a recent study by Angi, a company that connects homeowners with local service providers.

“In Angi’s State of Home Spending Pulse Report,¹ we found that 71% of homeowners have put off at least one home project this year,” says Angie Hicks, Angi co-founder.

If you’re feeling the pinch, you’re not alone. The study reveals the types of projects homeowners are delaying and why. We talked to experts to determine whether you should follow suit.

Why Homeowners Are Delaying Renovations

For years, Angi has published its annual State of Home Spending Report,² examining spending habits and making predictions for the year, with a focus on home upgrades and maintenance. Angi’s State of Home Spending Pulse Report is a new, more frequent survey that examines what Americans plan to spend on improving their current homes or purchasing new ones.

“With so much constantly evolving, we realized that we could do a ‘pulse’ check on homeowners to better understand how their home priorities were shifting throughout the year,” Hicks says. 

The most recent pulse survey reveals that significant changes have occurred for homeowners since the start of the year. Angi surveyed 1,000 homeowners in the United States in April. All of the homeowners surveyed had hired a professional for a home project, repair, or other maintenance task in the past year. 

Reasons for Delaying Projects

The report specified that 71% of homeowners have put off at least one project so far this year, and while the reasons are varied, they all ultimately stem from financial constraints and factors beyond homeowners’ control. 

“When asked, homeowners cited inflation (92%), economic uncertainty (89%), high interest rates (65%), and concerns about income or job stability (64%) as reasons for delaying projects,” says Hicks.

That’s not all. Nearly half of the surveyed homeowners (48%) say they’re more stressed now than they were in January about necessary home repairs. Additionally, 62% of respondents reported being more concerned about affording regular home maintenance now than they were at the end of 2024. 

3 Projects Homeowners Are Putting Off

Bigger projects are being moved to the back burner these days. Hicks says the most commonly postponed projects include:

• Bathroom remodels (12%)

• Interior painting (10%)

• Window replacements (10%)

Experts are also seeing delays on other renovations not mentioned in the survey, including kitchen remodels and roof replacements.

“These projects tend to require significant upfront investment, longer timelines, and often some form of financing,” says agent Karen Kostiw of Coldwell Banker Warburg. “In today’s uncertain economic climate, which is marked by rising interest rates, fluctuating construction material costs due to tariffs, and higher labor expenses, many homeowners are hesitant to spend money and overextend themselves.” 

These projects are more expensive upfront, plus they aren't guaranteed to make a profit, given the current state of the housing market. "[Homeowners] are increasingly concerned about job security, which makes long-term investments feel riskier,” Kostiw adds. “In some markets, slower sales cycles mean homeowners aren’t guaranteed an immediate return, making it more difficult to justify major renovations right now."

Home Projects to Tackle Now

While you might not have the funds to finance a new kitchen, you can still proceed with certain projects.

Short-Term Projects

“An easier project to take on now is painting the interior or exterior of your home,” says Cindy Raney, founder of Cindy Raney & Team. “The time horizon is short; you choose a painter, and they typically start right away. You know the total cost and can enjoy the feeling of a new home without doing a kitchen renovation during uncertain times.” Additionally, fresh paint is an excellent return on investment.

Household Maintenance

Aside from major changes, 71% of those surveyed plan to focus on preventative maintenance in their homes to avoid bigger, more expensive problems down the road. “A lot of maintenance tasks can often be overlooked. Things like cleaning the coils under your refrigerator, cleaning the vent in your dryer, and replacing your HVAC filters are essential tasks that are great to prioritize and can also extend the life of your appliances,” Hicks says.While maintenance might not seem as exciting as new paint or appliances, these projects offer peace of mind and a return on investment.  

“One of my biggest takeaways and something that I’m encouraged to see is homeowners prioritizing maintenance. It’s a really great way to make sure that you’re preventing surprise expenses and just taking care of your home,” Hicks says.

How to Prioritize Projects

Even in the most uncertain economic times, some home projects have to be done. Deciding which to tackle first comes down to necessity. 

“It’s important not to put off projects that are integral to the integrity of your home. Focus on the necessities such as making sure your roof is in good shape, maintaining your HVAC system, and cleaning the gutters. If these things aren’t taken care of, they can lead to costly expenses later.

—Angie Hicks

Angi’s data shows that neglecting to maintain the core functions of your home, such as fixing leaks, changing filters, or addressing the root cause of mold, can lead to mounting costs for seemingly unrelated tasks.

“If you’re hoping to take on a larger renovation like a kitchen or bathroom remodel, it’s important to make sure that you’ve analyzed your budget and make sure that you leave about 20% of the total budget for unexpected expenses,” she adds. 

Raney encourages homeowners to prioritize essential projects over aesthetic ones. “Imagine if you need a new roof but renovate your primary bath instead,” she says. “The roof could start leaking and cause another major problem that the homeowner needs to deal with.”

If you’re unsure of how to decide, step back and get a complete picture. “I recommend going around your home with a critical eye and making a list of things that you’d like to do and things that you must do. Then prioritize the list,” Hicks says. “While it may be tempting to put some of those like-to-dos at the top, you should make sure that your structural, mechanical, and maintenance items are prioritized high on the list. Once you have the list prioritized, start to budget and plan for how you can tackle each item throughout the year.”

Should You Wait? 

While a majority of those surveyed say they’re planning to wait to tackle major projects, that doesn’t mean you have to. If you have the money and aren’t concerned about economic or employment stability, then the time could be right for you. 

“I don’t think you should wait,” says Jessica Duce of JDuce Design. “We spend more than half of our time at home, and interior design can positively affect your mental health. Whatever your budget, make your home the best it can be.”

Keep in mind that costs won’t necessarily drop even if you give it time. That was certainly the case following the pandemic. Experts say the same is playing out with current tariffs. 

“During COVID, the cost of many construction materials skyrocketed due, theoretically, to supply chain issues. Those supply chain issues were resolved, but prices did not go down,” says Lindsay Barton Barrett, licensed real estate broker for Douglas Elliman. “So, if we’re seeing anticipatory price increases due to tariffs now, I would not assume they’ll go away over time. They may be here to stay, whether the tariffs are or not.”