Before the weather breaks again and it starts getting cold outside, make sure you have done some maintenance on your home.
Keeping your home maintained is essential to preventing serious cost down the line. You ever notice that vacant homes have the most issues? It’s because they’re ignored. Homes need to nurtured.
If you own a home or thinking of owning a home, know that there are going to be cost that arise outside of your regular mortgage, taxes and insurances. Some of the cost will come from wear and tear on your home. But some can come from ignoring what you feel are smaller issues such as running toilets or overgrown landscape. If those issues are ignored too long, they turn into bigger issues such as foundation repairs or huge leaks.
Below is a checklist of things you should be maintaining in your home while the weather is nice.
- Roof Inspection and Repairs: Costs for roof inspections can range from $100 to $500 or more. Repairs will depend on the extent of the damage but could range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
- Gutter Cleaning: DIY gutter cleaning may only cost the price of materials (gloves, a ladder, and a bucket), while hiring professionals could range from $100 to $300 or more.
- HVAC System Maintenance: Professional HVAC maintenance typically costs between $100 and $300. This may include cleaning, lubricating parts, and checking for any issues.
- Chimney Inspection and Cleaning: Chimney inspections can cost $100 to $300, and cleaning may be an additional $100 to $300.
- Window Cleaning: DIY window cleaning costs are minimal, involving the price of cleaning supplies. If you hire a professional window cleaner, costs might range from $5 to $10 per window.
- Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Testing: This is usually a DIY task with minimal costs for replacement batteries, which can range from a few dollars to around $20.
- Lawn Equipment Servicing: Costs for servicing lawn equipment depend on the type and extent of service needed but could range from $50 to a few hundred dollars.
- Exterior Cleaning (Power Washing): Renting a power washer could cost around $50 to $100 per day. Hiring professionals might cost a few hundred dollars, depending on the size of the home.
- Deck or Patio Maintenance: Costs for cleaning, staining, or sealing a deck could range from $200 to $1,000 or more, depending on the size and condition.
- Plumbing Inspection: A professional plumbing inspection might cost $100 to $300, depending on the complexity and size of the plumbing system.
- Driveway Repair: Costs for repairing cracks or potholes in a driveway vary, but DIY materials may cost around $50, while professional repairs could range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars.
- Tree and Shrub Pruning: DIY pruning costs are minimal, but hiring professionals might range from $100 to $500 or more, depending on the scope of work.
Keep in mind, you don’t have to do all these things all at once and everything may not even need maintenance this year. But make sure you make a budget and plan out when you will at least check in on the things on this list.
Can you think of anything missing from the list? What can you check off?
