Deferred Home Projects: Health, Safety, Fiscal Risks You Can't Ignore

Forbes

10-06-2025

Ignoring roof leaks can be a costly mistake, damaging home and putting health and safety at risk.
Almost three quarters (71%) of homeowners have delayed a planned project this year, citing inflation, high interest rates and economic concerns for their postponements. These were among the findings of an April 2025 online survey of 1,000 respondents who had hired a professional for a project in the past year, conducted for home improvement platform Angi. The impact of these delays can impact owners' health and safety, as well as the structural integrity and resale value of their homes.
The two projects owners would improve first if they had no budget constraints were kitchen remodels (31%), followed by bathroom remodels (22%), then outdoor area improvements (13%), the survey reveals. Enhancements in any of those three could make a home more comfortable, functional, accessible, safe, healthy and valuable, since they tend to be prioritized by homebuyers too. 'Even with delays, there's a strong underlying desire to improve key areas of the home,' the survey reports.
Chris Desino, owner of Ocala Horse Properties in Central Florida, is seeing this in his market, he says, with older homeowners delaying the installation of more accessible showers, non-slip flooring and grab bars. 'They would feel safer and be able to remain in their houses longer with these modifications.' Concerns about the rising costs of the modifications, despite the even greater potential costs of a fall-driven hospital bill, is causing them to postpone. Desino anticipates these delays continuing through 2025, barring any economic confidence boosts this year. 'The need remains. Fear and uncertainty are the only reasons it is being delayed,' he asserts.
One interesting and somewhat counterintuitive finding from the survey is an observation about younger owners and owners of younger homes (less than 20 years old). Both groups are significantly more likely to have already taken on improvements like kitchen remodels or smart home upgrades this year. 'In fact, they are more than twice as likely to have started a kitchen remodel or installed a smart home device compared to owners of homes 50-plus years old,' the survey reveals.
It's possible that this is somewhat DIY-driven, with younger owners reducing labor costs by taking on work themselves. It's also possible that they see a longer time horizon in their homes than older residents who may be thinking about downsizing or relocating near their adult children's families, (a trend dubbed 'baby-chasing'), in the next few years.
Among the Angi findings were 62% of respondents being more concerned about the costs of maintaining their homes than they were at the end of 2024, and 48% reporting that the stress of home repairs has increased since January. 'This aligns with what we saw in our 2024 report, where maintenance was already the top source of budget-related stress — surpassing even healthcare, childcare, and debt' the survey notes.
Rising costs are driving homeowners to choose more affordable materials and services, bundling repairs to potentially reduce labor costs, as well as starting projects earlier to avoid anticipated price hikes, Angi observes. Prioritizing maintenance makes sense from a safety point of view.
For example, as the company's co-founder and chief customer officer Angie Hicks points out, 'By staying current on upkeep — such as clearing gutters, servicing HVAC systems, and checking for leaks — homeowners can reduce unexpected emergencies and restore a sense of control and peace of mind.'
Some maintenance projects involve significant investments, and are also being deferred, Desino shares. He has seen several owners defer storm window strengthening and electrical problem repair. 'Many individuals are opting to wait and hope for better financial circumstances, despite the fact that they are crucial for safety, particularly in Florida,' he comments.
Roofing is one repair that is being deferred, much to owners' detriment, Waukesha, Wisconsin-based roofing and exterior remodeling contractor Tyler Hull reports. 'Lately, we are seeing families delay re-roofs on houses with 20-plus-year-old shingles. They are hoping to stretch another season, even with visible curling or active leaks in valleys. It is risky. Water gets into sheathing and insulation, which triples the cost of repair within six months.'
Clients are concerned about job loss and tighter credit, he suggests. He's even seeing clients hold back on paying for repairs after spotting damage signs like attic moisture. 'Some had mold spreading near vents but still paused work.'
Hicks agrees that deferred maintenance can lead to health and safety risks to a home's occupants. 'Water damage is both a structural threat and a health hazard because lingering moisture can lead to mold, which aggravates allergies and respiratory problems.' Smartly placed leak detectors can address some of these challenges and may also deliver insurance policy discounts.
The Angi owner also cautions, 'Allowing landscaping to become overgrown or letting dead vegetation accumulate increases the fuel load around a home and elevates wildfire risk.'
'I believe people are scaling down or pressing pause because they are afraid of locking into high material costs or losing flexibility,' Hull theorizes, adding, 'but safety repairs are not optional, and comfort projects done right actually save on energy and long-term wear. You wait too long, you pay in other ways.'