Do Bigger Homes Result in More Happiness?

Part of the traditional American dream is owning a big house, and data shows that homes in the U.S. have grown bigger, despite households getting smaller. But what size homes do Americans really want, and is bigger always better?  The average newly built U.S. home now includes more than 940 square f

Energy- and Disaster-Related Home Improvement Spending Trending Upward

“Although relatively few homeowners pursue projects with energy efficiency or decarbonization as a primary motivator, market spending on any improvement that ultimately impacts home energy use has expanded greatly in the past two decades,” says Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies 2025 Improvi

What Do Americans Know About Home Pests?

While 60% of homeowners feel confident in their ability to control pests at home, only 22% are fully confident, according to a survey by Modern Pest Services.   To remedy home pest problems, 97% said they’ve tried DIY solutions, including:  Store-bought pesticides (72%)  Traps (50%)  Scents (e.g., l

1 in 3 Americans Struggle to Pay Utility Bills

A third of Americans are struggling to pay their utility bills, and 22% missed at least one payment in 2025, according to a survey conducted last December by American Home Shield. Eleven percent reported missing multiple payments.  The significant number of those struggling may be attributed to risi