Basic Maintenance can Save you Major Money
Owning a home is an awesome investment, but it comes with some risk. Do some basic maintenance to avoid major costs!
Mitigate the cost risk of home ownership by spotting and taking care of minor repairs before they become major. These are the 10 highest cost problems you could encounter (and what to do about them).
1) FOUNDATION REPAIR
Issues could include a slope in the floors, pooling water, cracks or hard-to-shut windows or doors.
AVERAGE COST TO REPAIR: $500-$15,000
Maintenance That Can Prevent This Issue: Get regular inspections, visually inspect, take care of minor repairs right away.
2) ROOF REPAIR
If you notice leaks, visible damage or missing shingles, you could have a roof problem.
Average Cost to Repair:$1,000-$10,000
Maintenance That Can Prevent This Issue: Get regular inspections, visually inspect, take care of minor repairs right away.
3) TERMITE DAMAGE
Termite damage looks like swarms of flying bugs, wood with hollowed out tunnels and mud tunnels along exterior walls.
AVERAGE COST TO REPAIR: $500-$8,000
Maintenance That Can Prevent This Issue: Get termite monitors and traps installed, pull mulch away from the foundation, get termite inspections.
4) BROKEN WATER HEATER
You may have water damage if you notice musty smells, leaks anywhere in the roof or walls, mold or mildew growth, peeling or cracked paint.
AVERAGE COST TO REPAIR: $500-$1,500
Maintenance That Can Prevent This Issue: Check your pressure valve, get your water heater inspected, flush the tank.
5) WATER DAMAGE
You may have water damage if you notice musty smells, leaks anywhere in the roof or walls, mold or mildew growth, peeling or cracked paint.
AVERAGE COST TO REPAIR: $2,000
Maintenance That Can Prevent This Issue: Clean your gutters, fix any pipe leaks, get your sump pump tested.
6) HVAC REPLACEMENT
If your HVAC isn’t heating/cooling, is making strange noises, giving off strange odors or is resetting frequently, you may have mechanical or electrical issues.
AVERAGE COST TO REPAIR: $500-$2,500
Maintenance That Can Prevent This Issue: Get your HVAC system maintenanced every year, replace air filters on schedule, clear away debris from outdoor units.
7) MOLD REMOVAL
Mold may be visible or simply give off a musty odor and discolor ceilings. It may also cause respiratory issues for the people in your home.
AVERAGE COST TO REPAIR: $2,000
Maintenance That Can Prevent This Issue: Don’t ignore plumbing leaks and perform regular mold inspections.
8) NEW PIPES
If you notice damage on exposed pipes, water leaks or rusty water, you may have pipe issues.
AVERAGE COST TO REPAIR: $2,500
Maintenance That Can Prevent This Issue: Don’t use chemicals on drains, winterize your pipes during cold months, get your pipes professionally cleaned out.
9) ELECTRICAL ISSUES
Electrical issues may be evident if circuit breakers trip a lot, appliances cause electrical shocks, lights flicker or switches stop working.
AVERAGE COST TO REPAIR:
UP TO $15,000 FOR REWIRING
Maintenance That Can Prevent This Issue: Electricity isn’t a DIY task. Get a professional electrician to inspect and service your system.
10) SEPTIC SYSTEM REPAIR
Septic system issues may show up if you don’t flush toilets, drains go slow or you have standing water in the yard.
AVERAGE COST TO REPAIR: $1,500
Maintenance That Can Prevent This Issue: Septic tanks should be pumped once every 3-5 years and inspected at least that often.
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Buyers going into a new home need to understand their best option for avoiding these repairs.
Sellers need to understand what maintenance steps will improve their home value.
Good news: I can help both!
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