Homeowners say economy is pushing them to stay in their current house long-term: survey

Half of American homeowners say the economy is driving them to stay put in their current home for an average of 12 years longer, according to new research.A survey of 2,000 homeowners explored the state of their home, finding that with more homeowners staying in place long-term, maintaining aging homes is becoming a priority.Respondents are happy where they are — so much so that one in seven are in it for an even longer haul, envisioning themselves in their home for at least 20 more years (15%).The survey conducted by Talker Research for Service Experts for National Homeowner Month in June found that for many, their home is an investment, with half saying that the economy has influenced how long they see themselves in their home (49%).Just 6% see themselves relocating again.More time with their home will mean making sure it’s up to par and getting ahead of the curve on maintenance.Luckily, they’re already on top of it, as eight in 10 homeowners say they prioritize proactive home care just as much, if not more, than reactive home care.However, despite claiming to be proactive maintainers, many are unaware of how frequently essential tasks need to be taken care of proactively.

The findings suggest many are still waiting until something goes wrong before taking action.Even after owning their home for an average of 16 years, three-quarters of homeowners are still learning about how to get ahead of care for their home.While those surveyed knew about the importance of furnace maintenance (38%) and HVAC (35%) on a yearly basis, their knowledge about other areas of crucial home maintenance are falling behind.Just 24% of respondents knew that they were supposed to check on the condition of their plumbing annually, with even fewer knowing the same about electrical work and air quality (20% each).Whether or not they knew of these maintenance standards, the majority of homeowners admit they have not revisited maintenance for plumbing (56%), electrical (71%) and HVAC (54%...