How to keep your house up without spending your life savings?
Home maintenance is important. We know this. Every homeowner understands the necessity of keeping your house in good repair.
But…
Guess what most homeowners do anyways?
According to Today’s Homeowner, about 59% of homeowners wait to make repairs because they can’t afford them. Whoops. That’s going to cost you.
If you do something about that dripping faucet today it will cost you $60. Let that faucet go for a year and you could be looking at $5,000 in water damage.
Here’s the good news. Preventative maintenance on your home doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Take these tips one at a time and take care of things as they come up. Before you know it, you’ll have a home that’s well taken care of and investments that are paying off.
Let’s dive in.
What you’ll learn:
- Why Maintenance is Important
- Maintain Your Roof
- Maintenance Task Checklist
- Budget for Maintenance and Repair
Why Maintenance is Important
If you want the short version…
Don’t wait.
Repair costs will only grow the longer you wait to address home maintenance issues. In fact, more than two-thirds of homeowners who waited to make repairs ended up spending more when they finally did fix the problem.
Here’s how it works. You ignore that little drip under the kitchen sink. Next thing you know you got moldy cabinets. Then the floor. Then you need to replace all the cabinets. Swap out that sink. Remove and replace the bottom two drawers.
It all adds up quick.
Your home is likely your biggest investment. If it’s not already, it will be soon. It only makes sense to protect that investment by keeping your eyes open for signs of wear and tear.
Let’s look at it another way.
You can spend $500 now or $5,000 later. We’ll let you decide which number is the smart financial decision.
Maintain Your Roof
Here’s a fun fact.
Your roof should be at the top of your home maintenance list. It should literally be at the top. The roof does a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to protecting your home. If your roof goes, everything else is compromised.
Problem is…
Estimates say that about 38% of homes in the United States have roofs that are either in moderate or poor condition. Don’t be that home.
Invest in long-lasting roof repair solutions to protect your biggest investment by keeping your roof in tip-top shape. Not only will you protect the roof itself but you’ll protect everything beneath it.
Signs You May Need Roof Repair or Replacement
- Are shingles missing/damaged?
- Does your roof appear to be sagging?
- Do you see water stains on your ceilings?
- Are there granules in your gutters?
- Can you see light coming through your attic?
Roofs can be expensive, we get it. But here’s the thing. Taking care of small issues now will prevent you from having to make a large investment later.
Maintenance Task Checklist
Your roof should be priority number one when it comes to maintenance. From there things can become a bit fuzzy. Where should you go next? Focus on these areas to ensure your home is well taken care of.
Gutters and Drainage
Gutters get ignored a lot. Nobody wants to clean gutters. But clogged gutters lead to some serious issues. Water goes somewhere. If it can’t go down your gutter it’s going around your foundation into your walls, roof, etc.
Inspect your gutters and clean them out twice a year minimum.
Pro Tip: After big storms take a minute to do a visual inspection. Things pile up quick after storms.
HVAC
Heating and cooling systems are worked hard. Give them some love once in awhile.
Change your filter regularly. Get your system inspected once a year. A clean and well taken care of HVAC system will run more efficiently and last longer.
Neglect it? That’s how you’re looking at a $5K replacement when you could have just paid $200 for service.
Foundations and Exterior
Take a walk around your home every few months and look for the following.
- Cracks in foundation or siding
- Peeling paint
- Pooling water near foundation
- Large gaps around windows and doors.
You get the idea.
Plumbing
Little leaks equal big problems.
Check under your sinks and crawlspaces for signs of moisture. Do you see mold? Water stains? How about that one faucet that’s been leaking for “just a little?” Kill that thing. Pour yourself a drink and take the time to fix what you can.
Budget for Maintenance and Repair
Here’s where most people struggle.
They don’t budget for maintenance and repair.
Home maintenance should cost you 1% to 4% of your homes value each year. That $300,000 home? Take 3-12% of that and set it aside for repairs and maintenance.
Ouch.
I know it hurts but trust us. When your kitchen pipe bursts and you don’t have the money to fix it you will wish you would have listened to us.
Open up a savings account specifically for home repairs and maintenance. Set aside money each month that you would normally throw away. Think of it as another bill. Now when that rood leak happens you won’t have to worry.
The work will get done and you won’t have to trash your budget.
Focus on the Important Stuff First
Not all maintenance and repair tasks are created equal. Break things down by what needs immediate attention versus what can wait.
The easy way to look at it.
- Safety – electrical issues, structural integrity, etc.
- Water – Leaks, drainage issues, roofing problems
- Maintenance – HVAC, Plumbing, appliances.
Leave Cosmetic stuff for after you’ve handled things above.
Trust us, your roof doesn’t look cool with faded paint either.
Get Multiple Quotes
Don’t be that guy who accepts the first quote for repairs.
Always get at least 2-3 quotes before you dive into a repair. Sure, they might all be in the same ballpark but what about the warranty? Did one of them offer free materials? What about a timeline? Are they licensed and insured?
Remember, the cheapest option isn’t always best.
The True Cost of Not Maintaining Your Home
Think you can save money by neglecting maintenance?
Think again.
Homes that were in moderate to poor condition cost on average 60% more loss cost then homes that were in good condition. Lower maintenance homes help keep premiums down by reducing the risk of loss.
So they increase your premiums because you haven’t been maintaining your home, now you have to pay for those increases by repairing all the stuff you ignored.
It’s a never ending cycle.
- You don’t keep up with maintenance to save money.
- Things start to breakdown
- Insurance premiums go up
- You are forced to make repairs
- You spend thousands of dollars that you weren’t planing on spending.
Sound like a lot of work? It is if you put it off. Simple maintenance each month can prevent you from going through this cycle.
Bringing It All Together
Maintaining your home really isn’t that difficult. Heck it can be pretty simple if you just stick to these tips.
- Inspect your roof twice a year.
- Clean your gutters and inspect drains
- Schedule annual maintenance for HVAC
- Once a month walk around your home and inspect things closely.
- Budget 1-4% of your homes value for repair and maintenance each year
- Catch issues early
Your home takes care of you and your family every day. Don’t you think it’s time you returned the favor?
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