One in Three Regret DIYing a Home Improvement Project

Three quarters of homeowners completed a do-it-yourself ("DIY") project in the past three years. However, nearly 40 percent of them wish they hadn't, according to a new survey from home design site, Zillow Digs®.[i]

Attempting to add or expand a room to a home, such as a bathroom or bedroom, was the biggest DIY regret among homeowners surveyed, with more than half of respondents (53 percent) unhappy with some aspect of the project. Homeowners had fewest regrets around minor projects like replacing light fixtures or cabinet hardware. Less than 20 percent of homeowners regretted taking on those projects.  

While many people choose to tackle home improvement projects themselves to save money, nearly a quarter of those surveyed said their DIY project went over budget. This was especially true for larger-scale renovations, like building a new deck or refinishing a basement. Instead, DIYers were more likely to stay within budget on smaller projects such as painting or replacing plumbing fixtures.

"With seemingly endless DIY tips and how-to videos available today, home improvement projects appear easier and more accessible than ever before," says Kerrie Kelly, Zillow Digs home design expert. "While some DIY projects can save you money, involving a professional for larger-scale projects, especially those that require specialized skills, can help eliminate headaches and costly mistakes."

Zillow Digs surveyed homeowners from around the country to find which popular DIY home improvement projects people regretted the most and least. The survey also identified which projects homeowners were most likely to go over budget, with and without professional help.  

Top 10 most regretted home improvement projects:

Home Improvement Project	% of Homeowners with DIY Regrets	% of Homeowners Who Went Over Budget When DIYing	% of Homeowners Who Went Over Budget With a Professional
Add a room or expand/alter an existing one	53%	42%	32%
Reface or refinish cabinetry (kitchen or bath)	49%	20%	18%
Refinish basement or attic	48%	23%	23%
Replace or reinstall new carpeting (any room)	43%	23%	13%
Refinish or reinstall new hardwood floors (any room)	42%	22%	14%
Reinstall new cabinets (kitchen or bath)	41%	15%	22%
Retile a floor or shower	37%	13%	19%
Add or replace backsplash (kitchen  or bath)	37%	16%	7%
Build or install a deck	35%	22%	23%
Reinstall new countertops (kitchen or bath)	33%	12%	18%

Top 5 least regretted home improvement projects:

Home Improvement Project	% of Homeowners with DIY Regrets	% of Homeowners Who Went Over Budget When DIYing	% of Homeowners Who Went Over Budget With a Professional
Replace lighting fixtures (any room)	15%	7%	8%
Replace cabinet hardware  (kitchen or bath)	18%	7%	13%
Paint one or more rooms	18%	5%	13%
Install new kitchen appliances	19%	13%	14%
Replace plumbing fixture(s) (bath, sink or toilet)	23%	8%	13%

Shop For Food Safely During The Holidays With Help From The Home Food Safety Program

The holiday season means it's time to shop – for gifts and groceries. While shopping for gifts can be hard on your wallet, shopping for groceries, if not done properly, can be hard on your stomach. Grocery shopping must be done safely and smartly to reduce your risk of food poisoning. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has released a new infographic to help consumers understand the dos and don'ts of shopping safely.

"Food is a major part of the holiday season, and whether it's for a dinner party or stocking the pantry for houseguests, grocery shopping is the first step for every consumer to make sure the food they bring home is safe," says registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy Spokesperson Alissa Rumsey. "By following recommendations and downloading the new Safe Food Shopping infographic, everyone can work to ensure the food they bring home is safe for their families and friends."

Bring Along the Necessities As you head out for your grocery shopping trip, bring along hand sanitizer to use before sampling any foods; clean, reusable shopping bags; and a cooler if you plan on being out for more than two hours. "These shopping necessities can help you keep food safe throughout the entire shopping trip," Rumsey says.

Shop In OrderOnce you get to the store, shop for non-perishable items like canned and boxed goods first, then move on to refrigerated and frozen items. "Perishable items like dairy products and meats must be refrigerated within two hours, so this will limit the amount of time they are out at room temperature," Rumsey says.

Inspect All Packages and Foods Check the "sell-by" date and don't buy the food if the date has passed. In addition, make sure food packages are free from holes, tears or openings. Rumsey recommends checking each food item as you put it into your shopping cart:

• Pick produce that is free of major bruises and damages.
• Avoid buying cans that are deeply dented, bulging or rusting.
• Choose a milk carton that is cold to the touch.
• Check that eggs are clean and aren't broken or cracked.
• Pre-packaged meat and seafood should be tightly sealed, cold to the touch and free from dents and tears. Remember to place raw meats, poultry and seafood in plastic bags before placing them in your cart, so juices don't drip onto ready-to-eat foods.

Check Out Carefully At the checkout counter, bag refrigerated and frozen foods together to help them stay cold. Bag raw meats, poultry and seafood separate from ready-to-eat foods to avoid those foods coming in contact with raw meat juices. "It can be easy to forget about food safety at the end of your shopping trip, but don't neglect these important principles at any point," Rumsey says.

Download the Safe Food Shopping infographic to guide your shopping experience. For additional holiday food safety advice including articles, videos, infographics and more, visit www.HomeFoodSafety.org.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and ConAgra Foods' Home Food Safety program is dedicated to raising consumer awareness about the seriousness of food poisoning and providing solutions for easily and safely handling food in their own kitchens. More information can be found at www.HomeFoodSafety.org.  

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation's health and

Creative Side Dishes to Celebrate Thanksgiving

Down Payments Posing a Roadblock for Renters to Become Owners

Renting is less affordable than paying a mortgage on a monthly basis, but down payments are a barrier to many first-time buyers.

- Paying for a mortgage continues to be more affordable than renting on a monthly basis across the U.S.

- At the end of the third quarter of 2015, buyers could expect to spend 15 percent of their monthly income on a mortgage, and renters could expect to spend 30 percent of their income on rent.

- All but one of the 35 largest metros have rental affordability worse than the historical average, making it difficult for renters to save money for a down payment.

Paying for a mortgage is still more affordable than renting in the U.S., but saving enough money for a down payment has become increasingly difficult for first-time buyers, especially in markets where home values are rising rapidly.  

With the majority of renters in the largest metros putting about 30 percent of their monthly incomei toward a rental payment, saving money for a 20 percent - or even 10 percent - down payment is extremely difficult. First-time homebuyers and millennials are left trying to find other ways to break into the housing market, turning to friends and family for financial help. In 2014 alone, 13 percent of home purchases were bought using a loan or gift from friends or family for the down payment.

Rental affordability worsened in 28 of the 35 largest metros over the past year, and mortgage affordability worsened in just 18 of them.

According to a third quarter Zillow® analysis of U.S. rental and mortgage affordabilityii, residents of the Denver metro can expect to spend about 21 percent of their income on a mortgage, compared to 34 percent on rent. In the U.S. as a whole, homeowners can expect to spend 15 percent of their income on a mortgage, and 30 percent on rent. But getting that mortgage payment requires a homebuyer to have saved $62,760 for a 20 percent down payment - the industry standard - on a median-valued Denver home, which is $313,800.

In the Boston and Miami markets, the median monthly mortgage payment requires just 22 and 20 percent of monthly income, respectively. Renting is substantially more expensive, influencing many renters to start thinking about purchasing a home; 35 percent of the median income pays the median rent in Boston, and 44 percent in Miami. However, to purchase a home in Boston, a 20 percent down payment is $76,220. In Miami, buyers need to have saved $44,680.

Breaking into the housing market is less of a challenge in more affordable markets, like Cleveland. A 20 percent down payment on the median home there is $25,000, or $12,500 for 10 percent down. Residents of Cleveland can expect to spend 11 percent of their monthly income on a mortgage payment. Renters in Cleveland spend quite a bit more on rent: 27 percent of their monthly income.

"In general, paying a mortgage is more affordable than renting, and has been for some time. Unfortunately, many current renters aren't able to realize the savings that come with homeownership because as home values and rents keep rising, it's getting increasingly difficult to clear the down payment hurdle," said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell. "It's not uncommon for a 20 percent down payment on even a modest home to represent savings of $50,000 or more in some areas. And that number itself is a moving target, rising as home values escalate and harder to achieve as more money goes to landlords and less goes to savings. Using a smaller down payment is an option, but often comes with the added cost of mortgage insurance. Knowing this, it's no wonder that many current renters are waiting longer to buy a home and are turning to alternate sources, including friends and family, to help them scrape together a down payment."

In 34 of the largest 35 metros, rental affordability is worse than the historical average. Pittsburgh is the only housing market where residents pay less than the historical average for rent, about 25 percent of income; historically, renters in Pittsburgh spent 27 percent.

Metro Area	% Monthly Income for Mortgage Payment	% Monthly Income for Rent	Zillow Home Value Index, Q3 2015	YoY Change in Zillow Home Value Index	20% Down Payment on Median Home
United States	15.0%	30.2%	$182,500	3.7%	$36,500
New York-Northern New Jersey	24.9%	42.0%	$379,000	1.6%	$75,800
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	39.9%	48.8%	$547,900	4.5%	$109,580
Chicago, IL	13.7%	31.4%	$191,000	2.2%	$38,200
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	12.8%	29.6%	$173,100	15.2%	$34,620
Philadelphia, PA	14.3%	29.9%	$201,800	0.0%	$40,360
Houston, TX	12.3%	30.6%	$167,000	8.9%	$33,400
Washington, DC	17.2%	27.2%	$355,300	-0.6%	$71,060
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL	20.4%	43.9%	$223,400	10.4%	$44,680
Atlanta, GA	12.9%	27.2%	$164,000	5.7%	$32,800
Boston, MA	22.2%	35.1%	$381,100	5.7%	$76,220
San Francisco, CA	40.6%	47.0%	$768,000	12.0%	$153,600
Detroit, MI	10.1%	25.2%	$119,200	6.4%	$23,840
Riverside, CA	23.7%	36.4%	$293,300	5.6%	$58,660
Phoenix, AZ	17.3%	28.0%	$210,300	7.5%	$42,060
Seattle, WA	22.2%	31.7%	$359,400	8.2%	$71,880
Minneapolis-St Paul, MN	13.7%	26.0%	$213,700	3.4%	$42,740
San Diego, CA	32.3%	41.2%	$488,000	6.0%	$97,600
St. Louis, MO	11.0%	24.5%	$138,600	6.8%	$27,720
Tampa, FL	14.8%	32.9%	$156,400	7.5%	$31,280
Baltimore, MD	14.8%	28.3%	$239,200	-1.4%	$47,840
Denver, CO	20.6%	34.2%	$313,800	16.6%	$62,760
Pittsburgh, PA	10.6%	24.7%	$125,400	1.5%	$25,080
Portland, OR	22.0%	32.8%	$300,900	10.3%	$60,180
Charlotte, NC	13.0%	26.8%	$157,400	3.8%	$31,480
Sacramento, CA	24.8%	32.6%	$337,800	6.5%	$67,560
San Antonio, TX	13.5%	30.3%	$160,100	6.5%	$32,020
Orlando, FL	16.2%	32.8%	$176,500	5.8%	$35,300
Cincinnati, OH	11.1%	26.5%	$139,200	2.7%	$27,840
Cleveland, OH	11.1%	27.4%	$125,000	3.3%	$25,000
Kansas City, MO	11.3%	25.8%	$145,200	5.2%	$29,040
Las Vegas, NV	16.7%	28.0%	$194,600	7.7%	$38,920
Columbus, OH	11.7%	26.8%	$149,600	4.9%	$29,920
Indianapolis, IN	10.9%	26.6%	$128,500	3.5%	$25,700
San Jose, CA	41.6%	41.4%	$911,000	12.5%	$182,200