Survey: 42% of People in Japan Find Their Home Electrical Outlets Inconvenient, Citing 'More Charging Devices' and 'Overuse of Power Strips'

42.4% 'Feel' Inconvenienced by Their Home Outlets When asked if they have ever felt inconvenienced by the number or location of their home's electrical outlets, 35.8% said 'sometimes,' the most common answer. Combined with the 6.6% who feel it 'frequently,' it was found that 42.4% of people experience some form of inconvenience. On the other hand, more than half of the respondents do not feel inconvenienced.

Top Inconveniences: 'Increase in Charging Devices' and 'Power Strips' Among those who felt inconvenienced, the most cited situations were 'an increase in devices needing charging like smartphones and tablets' and 'concerns about appearance and safety due to more extension cords and power strips,' both at 48.1%. This was followed by 'not enough outlets for new home and kitchen appliances' at 40.6%. This suggests that while the number of household electrical products is increasing, outlet infrastructure has not kept up.

35.4% Have 'Given Up or Postponed' Electrical Improvements When those feeling inconvenienced were asked if they had ever given up on or postponed actions like adding outlets, 35.4% said 'yes.' The most common reasons were 'not knowing how much it would cost,' 'it's too much trouble,' and 'because it's a rental property.' In particular, the lack of clarity on costs is considered a major factor for hesitation.

Trigger for Consideration: 'Knowing the Cost Estimate in Advance' The most effective trigger to consider hiring an electrical contractor was 'knowing the estimated cost or price range in advance,' cited by 70.7%. This was followed by 'a clear explanation of the work process and content' (44.0%) and 'free on-site estimates or consultations' (34.7%). This shows a strong emphasis on transparent information for decision-making.

Top Image of Electrical Contractors: 'Seems Expensive' The most common image of electrical contractors was 'seems expensive,' held by 47.2%. Reasons for this included 'not knowing the market rate' and 'hearing stories of being overcharged,' indicating a deep-rooted distrust regarding pricing. On a positive note, 15.1% had the image of 'the peace of mind that comes with hiring a professional.'