Younger families more ambitious with to-do lists, survey shows

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It's hard to believe that somewhere between caring for a newborn or a toddler and earning a living, young families find time to even think about household projects. But they do. A recent survey found that these families had the most items on their household "to-do" lists.|ret||ret||tab|

Can it be that the younger the family, the more home improvement projects there are that need to be completed? Ace Hardware pondered that theory when it commissioned "America's To-Do List" study of 1,000 American homeowners. |ret||ret||tab|

And the answer is yes. While the average number of items on a young family's to-do list is 4.6, a mature family and "empty nesters" have an average of 4.3 and 2.5 items on their to-do lists, respectively. |ret||ret||tab|

"It seems that preparing a home for the arrival of a first or additional child often causes a flurry of home improvement activity," said Paula Erickson, consumer affairs manager for Ace Hardware. "Painting and furnishing a nursery, child-proofing a home or building bunk beds are just a few of the many tasks that young families find on their to-do lists."|ret||ret||tab|

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Who gets things done|ret||ret||tab|

Younger and older homeowners differ in many aspects of planning and executing their to-do lists. |ret||ret||tab|

According to the survey, couples under 55 are more likely to make their to-do list together and then cooperatively see that the projects are finished. Couples over 55 are more likely to have the man make the list, but have the woman ensure it gets done. |ret||ret||tab|

Despite younger families having more household projects, only 19 percent of people under 55 hire someone to do their housework, compared to 34 percent of people over 55.|ret||ret||tab|

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Worries over household projects|ret||ret||tab|

Feedings, diaper changes, and other newborn needs can leave younger family homeowners stressed and with little time for essential household tasks. |ret||ret||tab|

Twenty-three percent of people under 55 feel stress and pressure when dealing with home projects. |ret||ret||tab|

To reduce the stress stemming from household projects, young families reported that it is important for hardware stores to have employees who are knowledgeable about the products they sell and the projects their customers are working on.|ret||ret||tab|

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Sense of accomplishment|ret||ret||tab|

Whether to-do list items are written or committed to memory, 89 percent agree they feel gratified when projects are completed. |ret||ret||tab|

People under age 55 are more likely to feel a sense of accomplishment. |ret||ret||tab|

This feeling of accomplishment appears to have led many folks, 67 percent, to proudly proclaim they are a "do-it-yourself" kind of person when it comes to home improvement chores. And, 66 percent reported they try to plan ahead for home projects to avoid emergencies.|ret||ret||tab|

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