Men and women know what they like, but it’s women who aren’t so clear on what men want.
A new poll of 289 people — nearly half men — shows that each sex is pretty sure about the type of home services or home improvements they would choose for themselves.
When asked what the other would want, men correctly figured that women would prefer maid service most, followed by a handyman.
Things diverge, however, when women are asked what they think men would choose, according to the survey by , an online service that helps homeowners connect with prescreened contractors.
In that case, women thought men would prefer to have lawn-care service most, followed by a handyman.
Wrong.
The survey by the Golden-based company found more men preferred to have maid service, then a handyman and then lawn care.
That could be a problem for couples who don’t consult each other on home projects before booking the work, experts say.
“For many, if not most, these kinds of decisions are easy after both people get on the same page,” said David Lupberger, ServiceMagic’s home-improvement expert and a former remodeling contractor. “Sometimes there’s a clear distinction in the things men and women think are important.”
When asked about larger, more expensive projects, men correctly guessed that women preferred a remodeled kitchen, though women said they equally preferred a new bathroom. Each ranked a new addition to the home third.
Women, on the other hand, thought men wanted a new addition first and then a remodeled kitchen and a landscaped yard.
Wrong again.
Men said they preferred, like women, a remodeled kitchen first, followed by a new addition, a remodeled bathroom and then a landscaped yard.
Do-it-yourself stores such as Lowe’s — with 25 stores in Colorado — say women are the project bosses.
“Most home-improvement decisions are made by women, and about half of Lowe’s customers are female,” Lowe’s Cos. spokeswoman Maureen Rich said. “We’ve found that an overwhelming majority of our customers agree that men and women have equal abilities when it comes to learning about home improvement.”
David Migoya: 303-954-1506 or dmigoya@denverpost.com
Are you and your spouse on the same page?
A study says what you want and what your partner wants around the house may not be the same.
Home services women think men want
29% Lawn care
27% Handyman
22% Maid service
Home services men actually want
37% Maid service
21% Handyman
17% Lawn care
Home improvements women think men want
14% An addition
12% Kitchen remodel
9% Landscaping
Home improvements men actually want
16% Kitchen remodel
13% An addition
10% Bathroom remodel
