Home Depot launches online homeowners hub
Home Depot has launched an online Homeowners Hub to equip the next generation of current and future first-time homeowners with valuable resources including DIY guides, product recommendations, design inspiration and more.
“Our research has shown that lack of proper knowledge, tools and time were the top barriers for millennials navigating home improvement projects, which is especially stressful for a generation of current and soon-to-be first-time homeowners,” said Molly Battin, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at The Home Depot.
According to a new survey conducted by Home Depot in partnership with Morning Consult, home ownership is one of the most stressful milestones young people face today.
The retailer reported that, “around half of millennials (53%) report worries about purchasing their first home, along with starting a family (57%) and career advancement (52%).”
Having to do renovations and home improvements, said the firm, is the most significant hesitation about becoming a homeowner, with millennials reporting that home maintenance (74%) and home improvement projects (68%) are the most stressful aspects of homeownership.
“Helping homeowners complete projects is part of our DNA, so it was a natural move to create an online resource designed to empower our customers with everything they need to confidently turn their first house into a home,” said Battin.
The survey, said Home Depot, which sampled recent homeowners or potential homebuyers born between 1981 and 2005, found that young people are willing to take on projects, but they lack the skills and know-how to tackle them:
- A New Generation of DIYers: Over 8 in 10 of millennials and GenZers are interested in doing renovation, repair, design and décor projects. Yet only about a quarter of millennials and a third of GenZers would feel “very confident” about taking on a home improvement project.
- Paint vs. Plumbing: Millennials and GenZers were most comfortable with redecorating (83%/86%), painting (~80%) and routine yard work (81%); while well over half of the respondents were most uncomfortable with electrical work, plumbing, roofing/siding, and window/door projects.
- The Internet or Mom and Dad? Most young people would turn to YouTube or other online videos (~70%) to learn how to tackle DIY projects versus learning from a parent, family member or friend (61% of GenZers and 54% of millennials would do so). In fact, 90% of millennials and 92% of GenZ respondents said that having access to a centralized resource that provides guidance for first-time homeowners would be helpful to them.
“From moving checklists to project guides, and virtual workshops to design inspiration, the online hub brings The Home Depot’s expertise directly to customers,” said the company.
The virtual workshops provide expert, step-by-step guidance on projects like how to paint a room, replace light fixtures, install a faucet, or replace a garbage disposal.
In addition, the retailer said, a catalog of workshops teach the fundamentals of caring for different areas of the home from HVAC and plumbing to seasonal maintenance.
“Homeowners can find both livestream and on-demand options, which they can access any time and at zero cost,” said Home Depot.
