Female Homebuyers Tackle Repairs Alone

By: Marilyn Gardner: REALTOR® Magazine Online
Women increasingly are tackling home repairs on their own, thanks to the swelling numbers of single females purchasing homes.

For many single women, who may have more modest stores of disposable income than their male counterparts, completing home improvement projects themselves is an economic imperative.

This, in turn, has spawned a growth industry of do-it-yourself manuals, seminars, and television programs aimed at women.

Having the right tools is important, as lighter hammers and tools with smaller grips facilitate many projects for women. It also is important for women to educate themselves by asking questions at hardware stores, for even if she chooses to have a project done professionally, a woman will be treated with more respect by her contractors if she demonstrates that she is knowledgeable.

A study conducted by Sears has shown that almost half of women 50 or older fear that they will not be able to keep up their houses, though the growing trend of single female homeownership should do much to boost general confidence among women facing daunting home repairs.

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® reports that 20 percent of home buyers are single women, compared to single men, who account for just 10 percent.