Why most Germans are their own handymen 🛠️🪚🧰 …

While I try to make the best out of my more or less unvoluntary stay in Germany, my husband and I decided to support our Indian friends who recently bought a house. They needed help with their garden, so within just three days we moved 2.5 tons of soil and replaced the roof of their garden shed.

What struck me was the neighbors: they eagerly watched us and didn’t hesitate to share unsolicited advice and concrete suggestions about what we were doing. A truly German direct approach- sharing strong opinions, even when no one actually asked for them.

This made me reflect: in other countries, like the USA or India, most people would probably have called a handyman for such a job. In Germany, however, many people grow up learning to fix things themselves. I still remember helping my father hang wallpaper or repair small things around the house- it was simply part of everyday life.

In German culture, being self-reliant and practical is deeply valued. The “do-it-yourself” mindset is often passed on from generation to generation and is closely tied to ideas of independence, responsibility, and even pride in one’s work. In contrast, in countries like the USA, hiring professionals is more common and culturally accepted as a smart use of time.

💡What about in your culture- do people prefer to “do it themselves” or hire experts for such tasks?