Putting off home repairs? That’ll cost you.
When it comes to resources, time and money always seem like they’re the shortest in supply. And in terms of assets, your home is willing and able to take all the time, attention and budget that you have. For most of us, not only are we short on at least one of those things, we also don’t have the expertise to understand the difference between crucial maintenance and what’s nice-to-have.
Put that all together and it’s easy to understand why Consumer Affairs, the Journal of Consumer Research, says that the average home needs about $3,150 worth of repairs that haven’t been made yet. And between family, friends, health, community and careers, months (usually about 10, according to Consumer Affairs) can slip by before maintenance becomes unmanageable.
What happens when maintenance is put off?
Water works its way from gutters, downspouts and other channels to places it doesn’t belong.
Rot, rust, corrosion and decay can break down materials, sealants and insulation.
Small repairs become big as the issue becomes harder to access physically.
Eventually, more experts get involved: Plumbers, roofers, electricians, carpenters and moisture remediators.
Finally, emergency work brings surge pricing. Immediate service for major leaks, burst pipes or other problems can be expensive.
Ironically, we usually put off repair work to save on costs, which makes costs spiral due to waiting on repairs (67% of us did that) or just rising repairs costs in general (78% of homeowners noticed this).
What compounds the issue is the lack of knowledge. Before we buy a home, we usually get a comprehensive home inspection to alert us to major issues and concerns before making that initial investment. But after that, there’s rarely a moment when we can bring in a trusted expert to ask when what repairs should happen. For most of us, we rely on the Internet for a list of recommendations; and a YouTube playlist of How-To videos.
That’s why we created a Home Maintenance Inspection Package at Pierce County Handyman. We can come do a visual inspection of your home across gutters and drainage systems, windows and doors, siding and exterior walls and even lighting, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (just for a start) and give you a personalized written report on what needs to be done, when.
If everything looks good, then you just bought yourself some peace of mind this winter. And if repairs are needed, you know how urgent and what to prioritize. Of course, we’d love to help with an estimate for repairs; but that’s entirely up to you.