When you take on a home of your own, you are also taking on the responsibility to give it the care, attention, and routine maintenance that it needs. Every home is going to have problems pop up over time. Many of them are in need of minor fixes, but if they don’t get them, then the root problem can continue growing and growing until it either causes costly damage or needs expensive repairs. Here are some of the major costs you can expect if you’re not investing in regular home maintenance.
Foundation Repair
The foundation is one of the most important parts of any home and, as such, any signs of damage should never be ignored. A small crack in the foundation or the wall above could be the first signs of structural issues that can become a lot more severe in the future. Even if the cracks themselves aren’t too serious, moisture can seep through them, causing the foundation to erode. While the cost of sealing a crack might be as little as $100, you will be paying at least ten times and possibly one hundred times that much for extensive foundation repairs.
Roof Replacement
Maintaining your roof is all about ensuring that it’s clean of any debris and checked routinely for cracked or missing tiles that need to be replaced. Even one missing tile or clogged gutter can start to become expensive if not treated, as they can lead to leaks inside the home, causing water damage and the spread of mold. Enough neglect and a complete roof replacement is likely to cost you at least $5000. All it takes to prevent this is to get it checked once a year.
Plumbing Failures
It’s easy not to notice plumbing problems immediately. They’re often out of sight. However, when they do start to make themselves known, such as with a small leak or a slow drain, immediate action is necessary. If your home’s drainage isn’t working properly, you may need trenchless sewer repair or even a full replacement. However, if you fail to do that, it can lead to not only health issues but severe water damage, the costs of which can easily start to break into the five figures.
Mold Remediation
Whether due to leaks from the outside, such as through a damaged roof, interior plumbing issues, or even the buildup of humidity due to bad ventilation, mold should not be ignored. A small patch of mold can usually be easily dealt with thanks to some modern household cleaners. However, the more it’s allowed to spread and the more it seeps into the materials in the home, the more that you have to replace. This can include replacing drywall, ceilings, fabrics, and more. Professional mold remediation usually costs in the four figures. Aside from being a serious problem for the home, it’s a real health hazard, as well, so you should not tolerate its presence in the slightest.
HVAC System Replacement
Your HVAC system, including your heating and air conditioning appliances, is vital for the comfort of the home and needs regular maintenance to function properly. There’s a lot you can do yourself, such as changing filters and cleaning ducts, but you really should arrange for an annual inspection to make sure that the system is working as it’s supposed to. Otherwise, its efficiency can start to drop over time, leading to higher energy bills, until eventually, it can overheat and fail entirely. When that happens, you’re typically looking at spending a minimum of $5000.
Pest Damage
Pests are more than just an unsightly and unhygienic annoyance in the modern home. Some of them, such as termites, carpenter ants, and rodents, can do real damage to the home as well as the furniture inside it. A serious termite infestation can start to genuinely compromise the structural integrity of both your walls and your floors. The longer you leave an infestation to grow, the more bigger it’s going to get and the more damage it’s going to cause. At that point, you’re looking at paying for both the extermination fees and the repairs for the damage they have done.
Appliance Replacement
It’s not just the fixtures and materials of the home that you need to take care of, but your appliances, as well. Taking care of appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers can help you avoid all kinds of malfunctions and extend their lifespan. Even something as simple as dirty coils in the refrigerator leads to inefficient cooling, causing the motor to work harder to maintain its temperature, which will eventually make it fail. Any signs of issues with your appliances should be addressed as soon as possible to keep repairs cheap.
Your Insurance Premiums
If there is a major issue in your home that needs to be fixed, there’s a chance that your home insurance will cover the costs for you. However, if that’s the case, then these insurance claims can result in higher premiums. If the costs are high enough, your provider may even cancel your policy on you. If there are signs that an issue was caused by negligence, then it’s going to be all the more costly for you in the future.
Reduced Home Value
If you own the home that you live in, then you have double the reason to take care of it. Not only will you have to pay for any damage done, yourself, but that damage is likely to affect the value of the home, as well. Even if you’re able to prevent the issue from getting worse, problems like peeling paint and sagging roofs are so visible, that they can deter customers from buying or at the very least give them the room to negotiate your price down. It’s always a good idea to thoroughly ensure your home is in the best condition before putting it on the market.
If you have experienced any of the above, then aside from making the necessary repairs and replacements, you should take it as your opportunity to ensure that you take better care of your home with proactive maintenance in the future.
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