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Consumer Expenditure Surveys
Bureau of Labor Statistics > Consumer Expenditure Survey > Methods

Section 5 - Construction, Repairs, Alterations and Maintenance of Property.

Section 5 deals with expenses for supplies and services related to home construction, repair, alteration and maintenance.

Now I am going to ask about expenses for construction, repairs, alterations and maintenance of property.

  1. Enter 1 to Continue

First, let's talk about the construction or alteration of property you own or rent. You should not include jobs that have been or will be totally reimbursed by someone outside your household, such as a landlord.
Since the first of the reference month, have you or any members of your household had expenses for-

* Read each item on list.

  1. Dwellings under construction including a vacation home or second home?
  2. Building an addition to the house or a new structure, such as a porch, garage, or new wing?
  3. Finishing a basement or an attic or enclosing a porch?
  4. Remodeling one or more rooms in the house?
  5. Landscaping the ground or planting new shrubs or trees?
  6. Building outdoor patios, walks, fences, or other enclosures, driveways, or permanent swimming pools or hot tubs?

  7. Continue list

Now, let's talk about maintenance and repairs for property you own or rent. Again, you should not include jobs that have been or will be totally reimbursed by someone outside your household, such as your landlord.

* Read each item on list

  1. Repairing outdoor patios, walks, fences, driveways, or permanent swimming pools
  2. Inside painting or papering
  3. Outside painting
  4. Plastering or paneling
  5. Plumbing or water heating installations or repairs
  6. Electrical work
  7. Heating or air conditioning jobs
  8. Flooring repair or replacement, including wood, vinyl, and tile
  9. Wall-to-wall carpet - original installation
  10. Wall-to-wall carpet - replacement
  11. Insulation
  12. Roofing, gutters or downspouts
  13. Siding
  14. Installation, repair, or replacement of window panes, screens, storm doors, awnings, and the like
  15. Masonry, brick or stucco work
  16. Other improvements or repairs

  17. Continue list

Have there been any expenses for any other property, such as property that you do not own or rent, paid for by you or any members of your household?

* If Yes

Which type of job were those expenses for?



  1. Dwellings under construction including a vacation home or second home
  2. Building an addition to the house or a new structure, such as a porch, garage, or new wing
  3. Finishing a basement or an attic or enclosing a porch
  4. Remodeling one or more rooms in the house
  5. Landscaping the ground or planting new shrubs or trees
  6. Building outdoor patios, walks, fences, or other enclosures, driveways, or permanent swimming pools or hot tubs
  7. Repair outdoor patios, walks, fences
  8. Inside painting or papering
  9. Outside painting
  10. Plastering or paneling
  11. Plumbing or water heating installations or repairs
  12. Electrical work
  13. Heat or air conditioning jobs
  14. Flooring repair or replacement, including wood, vinyl, and tile
  15. Wall-to-wall carpet - original installation
  16. Wall-to-wall carpet - replacement
  17. Insulation
  18. Roofing, gutters or downspouts
  19. Siding
  20. Installation, repair, or replacement of window panes, screens, storm doors, awnings, and the like
  21. Masonry, brick or stucco
  22. Other improvements or repairs

  23. None/No more entries

For definitions Information Booklet »

On which property was the work done?
[If owned property, put in property numbers and property descriptions from Section 3] ___________________
or else, choose one of the following ---

  1. Rented sample unit
  2. Other rental unit
  3. Property not owned or rented by household

Briefly describe the property. [enter text] _____________

What work was done?

*The description should be adequate to classify "alteration", "repair", etc., and to identify in next interview. [enter text] _____________

*Enter the appropriate job classification code (IF APPLICABLE). [enter code] _____________

*Enter the appropriate detailed job code (IF APPLICABLE). [enter code] _____________

What was the total cost of the job?

Include all costs paid for by you or any member of your household or by someone outside your household, such as insurance companies, and so forth, regardless of when you made the payment(s) or incurred the costs. [enter value] _____________

* Enter 'C' for a combined expense

  1. C
  2. Not combined

What other work was included in this job?

*Enter all that apply
  1. Dwellings under construction including a vacation home or second home
  2. Building an addition to the house or a new structure, such as a porch, garage, or new wing
  3. Finishing a basement or an attic or enclosing a porch
  4. Remodeling one or more rooms in the house
  5. Landscaping the ground or planting new shrubs or trees
  6. Building outdoor patios, walks, fences, or other enclosures, driveways, or permanent swimming pools or hot tubs
  7. Repair outdoor patios, walks, fences
  8. Inside painting or papering
  9. Outside painting
  10. Plastering or paneling
  11. Plumbing or water heating installations or repairs
  12. Electrical work
  13. Heat or air conditioning jobs
  14. Flooring repair or replacement, including wood, vinyl, and tile
  15. Wall-to-wall carpet - original installation
  16. Wall-to-wall carpet - replacement
  17. Insulation
  18. Roofing, gutters or downspouts
  19. Siding
  20. Installation, repair, or replacement of window panes, screens, storm doors, awnings, and the like
  21. Masonry, brick or stucco
  22. Other improvements or repairs

  23. Misc. Combined (unable to specify/DK)

For definitions Information Booklet »

Did you do all the work for this job yourself or did you pay someone else to do all or part of the work?

  1. Self Only
  2. Paid or contracted with someone else
  3. Both

What did you pay in the reference month to someone else for this job? [enter value] _____________

What did you pay two months ago to someone else for this job? [enter value] _____________

What did you pay last month to someone else for this job? [enter value] _____________

How much was paid this month? [enter value] _____________

Since the first of the reference month, what is the total amount you paid to someone else for this job? [enter value] _____________

Did any of the cost since the reference month include the cost of any appliances or equipment?

  1. Yes
  2. No

Which of the following appliances or equipment were included?

* Enter up to six
  1. Cooking stove, range, or oven
  2. Microwave oven
  3. Refrigerator or Home Freezer
  4. Built-in dishwasher
  5. Portable dishwasher
  6. Garbage disposal
  7. Clothes washer
  8. Clothes dryer
  9. Range hood
  10. Smoke alarms and detectors
  11. Trash compactor
  12. Window air conditioner
  13. Portable cooling and heating equipment, including portable dehumidifiers, humidifiers, fans, and space heaters; excluding window air conditioners
  14. Other major home appliances and equipment

For definitions Information Booklet »

What was the total cost for the appliances or equipment? [enter value] _____________

Since the first of the reference month, have you or any member of your household PURCHASED any materials, supplies, tools or equipment for doing this job?

  1. Yes
  2. No

What was the total cost for all items you or your household purchased for this job in the reference month? [enter value] _____________

What was the total cost for all items you or your household purchased for this job two months ago? [enter value] _____________

What was the total cost for all items you or your household purchased for this job in last month? [enter value] _____________

What was the total cost for all items you or your household purchased for this job in the current month? [enter value] _____________

Since the first of the reference month, what was the total cost of all items you or your household purchased for this job? [enter value] _____________

Since the first of the reference month, have you or any member of your household RENTED any tools or equipment for doing this job?

  1. Yes
  2. No

What was the total cost for all items you or your household rented for this job in the reference month? [enter value] _____________

What was the total cost for all items you or your household rented for this job two months ago? [enter value] _____________

What was the total cost for all items you or your household rented for this job in last month? [enter value] _____________

What was the total cost for all items you or your household rented for this job in the current month? [enter value] _____________

Since the first of the reference month, what was the total cost of all items you or your household rented for this job? [enter value] _____________

Was or will any of the total cost of this job be reimbursed or paid by someone outside of your household?

  1. Yes
  2. No

What percent of the total cost was or will be reimbursed or paid by someone outside of your household? [enter value] _____________

Were or will any of these expenses for this job be deducted as a business expense?

  1. Yes
  2. No

What percent was or will be deducted? [enter value] _____________

Did you have any other expenses for this job?

  1. Yes
  2. No

Since the first of the reference month, excluding this month, have you or any member of you household purchased any materials or supplies that were FOR JOBS NOT YET STARTED?

  1. Yes
  2. No

What kind of job will the materials be used for?

* Enter a brief description. [enter text] _____________

* Select a job type below.

  1. Dwellings under construction including a vacation home or second home
  2. Building an addition to the house or a new structure, such as a porch, garage, or new wing
  3. Finishing a basement or an attic or enclosing a porch
  4. Remodeling one or more rooms in the house
  5. Landscaping the ground or planting new shrubs or trees
  6. Building outdoor patios, walks, fences, or other enclosures, driveways, or permanent swimming pools or hot tubs
  7. Repair outdoor patios, walks, fences
  8. Inside painting or papering
  9. Outside painting
  10. Plastering or paneling
  11. Plumbing or water heating installations or repairs
  12. Electrical work
  13. Heat or air conditioning jobs
  14. Flooring repair or replacement, including wood, vinyl, and tile
  15. Wall-to-wall carpet - original installation
  16. Wall-to-wall carpet - replacement
  17. Insulation
  18. Roofing, gutters or downspouts
  19. Siding
  20. Installation, repair, or replacement of window panes, screens, storm doors, awnings, and the like
  21. Masonry, brick or stucco
  22. Other improvements or repairs

For definitions Information Booklet »

What was the total cost of these materials and supplies? [enter value] _____________

* Enter 'C' for a combined expense

  1. C
  2. Not combined

What other work will be included in this job?

*Enter all that apply
  1. Dwellings under construction including a vacation home or second home
  2. Building an addition to the house or a new structure, such as a porch, garage, or new wing
  3. Finishing a basement or an attic or enclosing a porch
  4. Remodeling one or more rooms in the house
  5. Landscaping the ground or planting new shrubs or trees
  6. Building outdoor patios, walks, fences, or other enclosures, driveways, or permanent swimming pools or hot tubs
  7. Repair outdoor patios, walks, fences
  8. Inside painting or papering
  9. Outside painting
  10. Plastering or paneling
  11. Plumbing or water heating installations or repairs
  12. Electrical work
  13. Heat or air conditioning jobs
  14. Flooring repair or replacement, including wood, vinyl, and tile
  15. Wall-to-wall carpet - original installation
  16. Wall-to-wall carpet - replacement
  17. Insulation
  18. Roofing, gutters or downspouts
  19. Siding
  20. Installation, repair, or replacement of window panes, screens, storm doors, awnings, and the like
  21. Masonry, brick or stucco
  22. Other improvements or repairs

  23. Misc. Combined (unable to specify/DK)

For definitions Information Booklet »

Since the first of the reference month, excluding this month, have you or any members of your household purchased any materials or supplies that were NOT FOR ANY SPECIFIC JOB?

  1. Yes
  2. No

What was the total cost? [enter value] _____________

End of Section 5

Go to Section 6 Part A - Appliances, Household Equipment, and Other Selected Items - Purchase of Household Appliances »

Go to CE CAPI Survey Instrument Home Page »

 

Last Modified Date: April 12, 2011