When purchasing a home, most people tend to forget that the cost goes way beyond the seller’s asking price. There are many other additional expenses to consider, such as property taxes, homeowner and mortgage insurance, HOA fees, utilities, and most importantly repair costs. Homes are an ongoing investment. In order to keep your house in good condition, you must always stay on top of its maintenance and refurbishing needs. Read this article to find out how you can minimize the cost of house repairs in the long run.
Get a Home Warranty
Chances are you’ll be offered a home warranty when buying a home, even if it isn’t new. This warranty covers the repair or replacement costs of certain appliances, thereby serving as a safety net. Home warranties provide great financial protection against unexpected and often expensive home maintenance costs. Home warranties typically cover major issues, such as damage from hail storms, some types of water damage, as well home-related crimes that leave your property and personal possessions in jeopardy.
Check the HVAC in the Off-Seasons
Many people often experience trouble with their furnaces after leaving them unused during the summer. Because of this, HVAC repairmen are often in high demand during this season and often charge additional emergency fees. This is why it’s always smart to ensure that your furnace is working and running efficiently around a month before it starts to get colder. Similarly, if you tend to use the AC during the hotter months of the year, you need to make sure that your system is cooling properly before summer hits.
Cleanliness Is Key
Nothing puts furniture and appliances at risk like dirt. Dust and grime can quickly decrease the lifetime of your wooden furniture, fabrics, and home electronics. Make sure to give the carpets a good wash every now and then, wipe down the legs and arms of the seats, and keep all the fabrics clean. Wipe all the surfaces at your home regularly and clean out your vents and filters. Otherwise, you’ll risk subjecting your home to wear and tear. Cleaning your appliances regularly also allows you to detect small problems early on. This way, you can address them before they require more serious repairs or replacements.
Set Up a Maintenance Schedule
We all trivialize small tasks and put them off for later because “we’ll get around them sooner or later.” However, we all know that this is never the case. The leaky faucet will remain unfixed for months on end, and you’ll eventually master the art of using the loose cabinet door without breaking it off completely. Coming up with a maintenance schedule is a surefire way to keep up with your home’s upkeep needs. For instance, every month, dedicate a day to checking up on each part of your home. Know what needs to be done, and make sure to allocate enough time to have it fixed. It would also be smart to create a long-term plan for your home’s remodeling or appliance replacement needs because you’ll need to do so eventually.
Purchasing a home is an ongoing investment. If you don’t stay on top of your home’s maintenance needs, you will end up with bills that break the bank in the long run. Fortunately, following these tips will help minimize the costs of house repairs.
