Jobber, a provider of software for blue collar businesses, recently released The Recent Homebuyer Reality Check, its first study of what homeownership actually costs in the first two years after purchase. Based on a survey of 800 Americans who bought a single-family home within the past two years, the report puts hard numbers on the gap between how move-in ready buyers think their home is and what they discover once they start living in it.
The data tells a consistent story: New homeowners are spending more than they anticipated on repairs they didn't see coming, and those experiences are shaping what they expect from the businesses they hire — clear communication, transparent pricing, and fast responses.
"The first two years of homeownership are harder than most buyers expect but 93% say they're glad they bought anyway," says Abheek Dhawan, chief strategy officer at Jobber. "That commitment means they're motivated to find professionals they can rely on, and for home service businesses, that's the opportunity."
Move-in ready doesn't mean what buyers think it means
According to the survey, 58% uncovered unexpected repair needs after moving in, despite 86% describing their home as move-in ready at closing.
Millennials were the most likely generation to discover unexpected repair issues after move-in (69%), compared to Baby Boomers (48%).
The mortgage is just the beginning
According to the survey, 72% of homeowners spent up to $10,000 on unexpected repairs or maintenance within their first two years of ownership, and 60% said homeownership has been more expensive than expected.
Finding trusted service pros remains a challenge
According to the survey, 75% hired a home service professional within two years of purchasing their home.
And 15% had to repeatedly follow up with a service provider, and 9% never received a response from a service provider at all.
For one survey respondent based in the Greater Boston Area who purchased a home in 2025, those numbers tell a familiar story.
"After an extensive and sometimes heartbreaking hunt, we found a 1923 Cape Cod-style home near where I grew up that we fell in love with instantly. There was much more work than we expected. As a first-time homeowner, figuring out who to trust and who to hire felt almost as overwhelming as buying the house itself."
To read the full report, visit www.getjobber.com/recent-homebuyer-report.
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