Regrets are a part of life, and they’re not just reserved for wishing you’d ordered the dessert or moved on from that one situation just a little bit earlier. A new report by Clever Real Estate, which surveyed about 1,000 property owners, found that a whopping 80% of homeowners have some sort of regret about their home, citing everything from the way it looks to how they timed the market.
What the Report Revealed
Per the survey, 66% of people with home-related regrets said that appearance was their biggest sore spot. Issues like outdated bathrooms (22%), kitchens (18%), and flooring (18%) were the primary complaints.
Interestingly, though, half of those surveyed said they regretted a past renovation, and 49% said it cost a lot more than they expected to pay. Another 55% said that owning a home, in general, was more expensive than they anticipated, citing costs like property taxes, repairs, and general maintenance.
While those were the biggest regrets homeowners expressed, another notable complaints included the home's location; about 45% said it wasn't ideal due to things like excessive traffic, being too far from loved ones, and dealing with bad neighbors.
It’s not all bad news, though. Even with home-related regrets, the vast majority (91%) said they didn’t regret being a homeowner, and 92% felt that buying was still a good investment.
The Takeaway For You
Buying a home is exciting, but being realistic about unexpected costs (and planning for them in advance) can save you a lot of regret and surprise bills. Cosmetic updates can be tackled over time, but factors like the home’s location and the ongoing costs of taxes, repairs, and maintenance are much harder to change.
The survey also reveals there’s an important balance between living with parts of your home and going for the renovation. If you’re planning home improvements, building some wiggle room into your budget can help keep an exciting upgrade from becoming a source of regret.
Wendy Rose Gould is a lifestyle journalist who routinely contributes to Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Women’s Health, and House Beautiful, among others. She covers home and garden, wellness, and travel, focusing on thoughtful storytelling and detailed reporting. When not writing, you can catch her perusing thrift stores, singing, hitting the gym, and petting any cat or dog that'll allow it.
