In 2018, about 88% of Americans had to make at least one major repair in their home. That cost about $4500 for home repair costs.
Too many people wait for something to go wrong before they fix it. A preventative home maintenance plan can keep you ahead of the game and lower your maintenance costs.
Read on to discover the top home maintenance ideas for your home.
1. Set Aside a Budget
Home maintenance is hard to budget for because it’s not a recurring expense. Homeowners typically have a few expenses throughout the year.
You can treat it like a recurring expense and set aside funds for home maintenance. How much should you save?
One approach suggests that you set aside $1 per square foot of your home. Another approach is to spend about 4% of your home’s value on maintenance.
Both approaches give you an annual budget, which you can divide by 12 to come up with a monthly budget.
2. Create a Home Maintenance Checklist
Don’t take a wait-and-see approach, take a preventative approach to home maintenance. Preventative home maintenance involves a lot of little tasks that you do periodically.
The best way to keep track of these tasks is to have a home maintenance checklist. Create a master list of home maintenance tasks.
Put everything on the list, from changing air filters to cleaning gutters. Then divide the list into monthly, quarterly, semiannually, and annually. Put the tasks into their appropriate areas and you have your checklist.
3. Conduct Regular Inspections
You should check things like your HVAC unit and roof at least twice a year. You should do a quick visual inspection of your roof after a storm.
A roof inspection reveals broken shingles that you need to repair or replace. They might show that it’s time for a complete roof replacement.
These inspections prevent A/C failures and leaks that can cause more damage to your home.
4. Have a List of Professionals Handy
A stable of reliable contractors and repair people are going to be your lifeline in an emergency. They can also help you take care of routine maintenance problems.
You should have a roofing contractor, plumber, electrician, and HVAC contractor. Do your research to find reputable contractors in your area.
5. Check Your Utility Bills
Your utility bills tell you if there’s something wrong with your home systems. A suddenly high electric bill can be a sign that there’s an issue with your HVAC unit or there’s an energy leak.
An HVAC unit can cause the energy bill to skyrocket if it’s an older system and it has to work harder to keep your home cool.
You can usually spot energy leaks in your home by checking windows and doors. You should also check your home’s insulation. There could be moisture in the insulation, causing it to fail.
The Best Ideas for Home Maintenance
Home maintenance doesn’t have to be difficult to do. It does take planning if you want to take a preventative approach to home maintenance.
It helps to have a budget and a home maintenance checklist to keep you organized. You’ll be able to make your systems last longer and home maintenance won’t cost as much.
Ready for more home maintenance advice? Check out the blog today!