DENVER, Oct. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A cabinet installation that took the counter down with it. A “beautiful frozen waterfall” inside a refrigerator. A raccoon making an unscheduled entrance through the living room ceiling. Homeownership comes with plenty of stories. Angi, a leading digital home services marketplace, today launches its first-ever Home Oops Report, exploring DIY mistakes, delayed repairs, hidden surprises inherited from previous owners and the lessons that prompt homeowners to hire a pro.

The survey of 1,000 U.S. homeowners finds that 78% have experienced a “home oops,” spending an average of $3,166 over the past three years correcting mishaps. The average homeowner has experienced more than 3 mishaps, and 22% have had five or more.

“Most homeowners have a project that looked simpler before they started—or a surprise their house saved for just the right moment,” said Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi. “There’s room to laugh about the unexpected, but there’s also something to learn. Understanding what you can comfortably handle yourself, getting help with more complicated work and addressing small problems early can help keep the next chapter shorter—and less expensive.”

DIY confidence sometimes needs a second opinion

Saving money drove 40% of respondents to DIY or postpone repairs, while 32% believed they could do the work themselves. But a smaller upfront bill doesn’t always mean a cheaper project: Homeowners spent an average of $1,171 correcting a DIY mistake, and a professional ultimately fixed DIY projects gone wrong 52% of the time.

One homeowner’s cabinet installation became an unexpected two-for-one repair: “I was trying to put up a cabinet and wound up breaking the counter and the cabinet itself.”

Before starting, consider whether your tools, time and talent match the job—especially when a mistake could damage more than the project itself.

Some homes come with bonus plot twists

Not every oops begins with a DIY attempt. Some home oops moments come with the keys. More than one-quarter of homeowners (28%) discovered a mistake, shortcut or hidden issue left by a previous occupant. Among those homeowners, 51% encountered plumbing issues, 38% electrical issues and 33% water damage or mold.

Another 24% faced a mystery repair. One homeowner followed a trail of wet carpet and pantry flooring to an unlikely source: “Looked all over and discovered a beautiful frozen waterfall in the freezer portion of the refrigerator.”

Weather brought unexpected damage for 33% of homeowners, while wildlife, rodents or insects caused damage for 20%. One respondent got a particularly memorable wake-up call: “A raccoon actually crashed through my living room ceiling at 5:30 on a Sunday morning and I opened the front door and chased it outside.”

“I’ll get to it” can come with an extra bill

Putting off a repair can add another line to the bill. Thirty percent of homeowners knowingly delayed a repair that got worse. Among those who delayed, 83% paid more than they would have by addressing it promptly, with an average additional cost of $1,645.

The silver lining: 33% of homeowners said their biggest lesson was to call a pro sooner, and 30% said they should have addressed the issue immediately. Another 27% said their mishap made them more likely to hire a pro next time.

Home Oops by the Numbers

  • 78% of homeowners have had a home oops; the average is more than 3 per homeowner.
  • $3,166 average spent over the past three years correcting home oops; 39% spent $1,000 or more.
  • $1,171 average cost to fix a DIY mistake; 43% spent $500 or more.
  • 52% of DIY mistakes needed a pro to finish the job (28% self-fix, 20% family or friend).
  • $1,645 average extra cost of delaying a repair; 83% paid more for waiting.
  • 28% found a previous-owner surprise; 24% had a mystery repair; 20% had a pest problem; 33% had weather damage.

Angi’s Tips to Skip the Home Oops

  1. Consider your time, tools and talents before starting a DIY project. Do you have the time to complete the work, the right tools and the skills the job requires? If you’re missing any one of the three, hiring a pro is your best bet.
  2. Fix small problems while they’re small. Plumbing leaks and roof issues are the repairs homeowners most often put off, and delays cost an average of $1,645 more.
  3. Save the DIY for the right jobs. Small cosmetic upgrades and one-step fixes can be satisfying weekend projects. Complex plumbing, electrical, and high-up jobs are best left to someone who does them every day.
  4. Get a home inspection when buying or selling. A trained set of eyes on the plumbing, electrical, roof, and moisture situation can catch what a fresh coat of paint might be hiding.
  5. Check the track record. Hiring a licensed, reviewed pro is the fastest and safest way to avoid a potentially expensive home oops.

To explore resources for planning projects and finding local pros, visit Angi.com.

Methodology

The 2026 Angi Home Oops Report is based on an online survey of 1,000 U.S. homeowners fielded on September 16, 2026, through the Pollfish panel platform. Findings reflect respondents’ self-reported experiences. Follow-up and open-ended questions were asked only of homeowners who reported personally experiencing the relevant type of home mishap, so respondent counts vary by question. Homeowner stories featured in the report are drawn from these open-ended responses.

About Angi Inc.
Angi (NASDAQ: ANGI) helps homeowners get home projects done well and helps home service professionals grow their businesses. Founded in 1995, Angi connects homeowners with skilled local professionals, from plumbers and electricians to remodelers and landscapers, and provides tools for researching costs, planning projects and hiring with confidence. Homeowners have turned to Angi, and our vast network of skilled home pros, for help with more than 300 million projects.

Angi Corporate Communications
Jennifer Myers
(303) 963-8352

mediarelations@angi.com


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