NEW YORK, NY — A vast majority of homeowners undertaking home remodeling projects report they’re experiencing “significant stress” throughout the renovation process, while more than half are experiencing “renovation fatigue” – emotional burnout caused by delays, disruptions and decision fatigue.
Those are among the key findings of a recent study by Block Renovation, a New York-based firm that links homeowners with professional contractors. The study, drawing insights from a nationwide survey of more than 1,000 homeowners, offers a snapshot of how Americans are managing the financial pressures, emotional stress and logistical hurdles of home renovation (see related Editorial, September 2025).
“Homeowners invest deeply in their renovations, not just financially but also emotionally,” said Block Renovation’s CEO Julie Kheyfets. “People are making deeply personal decisions to adapt their homes to their evolving needs, and renovating is one of the most expensive and stressful journeys someone might undertake.”
According to Block Renovation, securing a reliable contractor “remains a key hurdle” to consumer satisfaction. While more than half of homeowners (52%) rely on referrals – especially Baby Boomers (70%) and Gen X (68%) – Millennials are taking a different route, with 45% turning to Google or other digital platforms to find their contractor, the study revealed.
Millennials feel the strain of remodeling most acutely, according to the study’s findings, with 67% reporting moderate to high stress and 40% saying that their renovations strained personal relationships, compared to just 15% of Boomers. Top stressors included living through construction (55%), project delays (35%), and making design decisions (29%).
Despite efforts to budget carefully, 37% of homeowners still exceeded their renovation budgets, with many facing unexpectedly high costs for materials (58%) and labor (40%), the study concluded.