Contractors may be essential to home improvement — but a new SuretyNow survey reveals that homeowners’ trust is far from absolute. From cost overruns to unfinished jobs, frustration runs high, and most homeowners say they’d pay more for the peace of mind that comes with bonded and insured contractors.
A Trust Deficit in Home Improvement
When asked if they trust contractors to complete a project on time and on budget, only 35.6% said “yes, completely.” More than half (51.4%) said they “somewhat” trust contractors, while 13% admitted they don’t trust them much — or at all.
This uncertainty paints a picture of fragile trust between homeowners and the people they hire to improve their homes.
Bad Experiences Are Common
The data shows why confidence lags:
- 41% have experienced cost overruns
- 35% have dealt with poor quality work
- 18% had a job left unfinished
- 17% said the contractor disappeared
Only about a third of homeowners (32.4%) reported entirely positive experiences.
The prevalence of negative stories makes clear that contractor reliability is a systemic issue — not a rare exception.
Homeowners Would Pay More for Peace of Mind
Despite frustrations, homeowners aren’t looking for the cheapest option. Nearly 3 in 4 (73.7%) said they would pay more to hire a contractor who is bonded and insured.
And for most, the sweet spot isn’t extreme: almost half (46.9%) said they’d pay 5–10% more, while 27.8% would go as high as 10–20% more.
This suggests that transparency and protection mechanisms could unlock significant homeowner spending.
The Push for Mandatory Bonding
The survey also revealed strong public appetite for reform: 78.5% of homeowners believe state governments should require all contractors to be bonded.
With nearly 4 in 5 supporting mandatory bonding, policymakers may face mounting pressure to strengthen regulations in the industry.
Why It Matters
Home improvement is one of the largest household expenses, but it’s also one of the least trusted. The data shows that homeowners aren’t opposed to paying more — they just want assurance that their money won’t be wasted.
For contractors, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity: those who lead with transparency, bonding, and insurance can set themselves apart in a market plagued by distrust.
About the Data
The survey was conducted by SuretyNow, gathering responses from homeowners across the U.S.
