A new report by home insurance group Hippo finds that homeowners in the U.S are more proactive than ever when it comes to protecting their home against damage.

The insurer released its third annual Housepower Report, based on a national survey of over 2,000 U.S. homeowners, this week.

“In 2024, when faced with unexpected repairs, many homeowners shelled out high out-of-pocket costs to manage their homes,” said Hippo president and CEO Rick McCathron.

The survey found that unexpected repair costs soared in 2024, with more than 83 percent of homeowners reported encountering unexpected home repairs, nearly doubling from 46 percent in 2023.

Last year, nearly half (46 percent) of homeowners spent more than $5,000 on unexpected repairs – an increase from 36 percent in 2023.

The most common home repairs included water damage and/or flooding, roof issues, and door or window problems.

The surprise impacted homeowners’ feelings of financial stability, with 47 percent indicating that unexpected repairs strained their budgets.

Data from the Housepower Report shows how homeowners plan to protect their investment in 2025:

Emergency Plans: 29 percent said emergency planning should be a top priority in 2024, with nearly half of respondents (47 percent) indicating they are creating or updating their own emergency plans in 2025.

Insurance Reviews: In 2024, nearly half (46 percent) said home insurance and protection plans became more important to them. Now, 42 percent say they’ll be revisiting their home insurance coverage in 2025, while 31 percent have or will purchase optional coverage, such as flood insurance.

DIY Projects: In 2025, 55 percent plan to do more DIY home maintenance to help save on household costs. Taking on DIY projects could also allow more financial flexibility for homeowners to invest in home upgrades or purchase additional insurance coverage.

Energy Efficiency: 59 percent identified efficiency and sustainability as a priority in 2024. Steps toward sustainability and efficiency could include home upgrades like installing smart thermostats, improving insulation, or sealing air leaks.

Preventative home maintenance is another critical strategy homeowners use to protect their financial investment.

In 2024, 64 percent of homeowners said they prioritized home maintenance to help preserve their home’s overall condition, while 46 percent did so to improve their home’s return on investment (ROI), and 45 percent did so to help prevent costly repairs.

Yet, nearly a quarter of homeowners spent less than $1,000 on proactive seasonal maintenance in 2024, significantly less than the $5,000 or more that nearly half (46 percent) of homeowners spent on unexpected repairs.

A striking 73 percent of homeowners reported having regrets about their home purchase in 2024, up from 63 percent in 2023, and nearly on par with the 78 percent of homeowners who had regrets about their home purchase in 2022.

The top homeowner regrets of 2024 included:

• Compromising on desired features (42 percent)
• Paying a mortgage rate that is higher than they can comfortably afford (34 percent)
• Underestimating unexpected repairs (29 percent)

These homeowner regrets are fueling future plans, with 59 percent of respondent considering moving in 2025 to better align with their financial and personal goals.

Data from the Housepower Report revealed that 28 percent of homeowners expressed concern about extreme weather preparedness in 2024, up from 25 percent in 2023.

Of the weather challenges impacting their homes in 2024, homeowners reported heightened flood risk (42 percent), wildfire risk (35 percent), strong winds or tornadoes (30 percent), and hailstorms (29 percent).