Home Maintenance Money-Saving Tips
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A house purchase is a happy occasion. You finally get to live independent of landlords, provide a bedroom for every family member, and enjoy a barbecue in your backyard.
However, unexpected repairs and their extortionate costs can make it feel much less joyful.
Houses are more challenging and costly to maintain than apartments. If you're smart about it, though, you can reduce the expenses and stress of homeownership.
Know When to DIY
Home repairs tend to cost an arm and a leg, and part of that cost comes from the labor that professionals put into them.
If you're dealing with a big and severe issue, bringing in professionals is the right thing. When it comes to smaller maintenance jobs, most people can handle them quite smoothly with the help of DIY blogs and patience.
Gauging which problems are too much to control yourself is critical here. Sometimes, getting your hands dirty can be cost-effective and fun.
Preventative Maintenance
The most time-consuming and pricey maintenance issues take time to build up, making routine checkups a go-to solution for preventing them.
Prevention doesn't have to be complicated, either. Inexpensive insulation around your pipes can prevent winter freezing, and removing vegetation around your air conditioner will prolong its lifespan. If you're unsure where to begin, focus your attention on leakages.
Leaks
Water leaks can lead to mildew, rot, and mold if you don't address them.
Check your under-sink cabinets and toilets, and don't forget the roof. As the Dominion Roofing Company experts explain, even small damage such as missing shingles can let moisture into your home.
Air leaks are less detrimental in the long run, but they can still be a waste of money. Seams and cracks can corrupt your home insulation, leading to higher energy costs and general discomfort.
Saving on Materials
There are two ways to cut supply costs for your repairs, depending on whether you're performing it yourself or hiring a professional.
Rent Tools
Tools can be quite expensive, so it's always good to visit yard sales or shop online instead of buying in-store.
However, if you're looking for a highly specific piece of equipment that you'll only use once or twice, consider renting it instead. Rental professionals can even explain proper usage, ensuring your safety.
Buy Supplies Yourself
If you're hiring experts, they'll offer to provide supplies necessary for the job. However, you can sometimes get a better deal if you shop outside their network.
Don't forget to double-check all the technical requirements for materials with your contractors before you buy, though.
Energy Efficiency
Many home maintenance requirements arise from issues that expand too much energy and increase living costs. You could consider a home energy audit to find areas of possible improvement and reduce expenses in the long run.
Residential energy audits are growing in popularity, helping people lower monthly bills and make their homes more environmentally-friendly.
While it's an investment at first, the average result of such audits is a 30% reduction of energy bills. Professional auditors don't only check for problematic areas but also offer you plans on fixing them.
However, this isn't a solution you go for in the case of an emergency. Both the audit cost and the ensuing expenses of implementing their plan can be considerably high-priced. This step is one you take when you're financially prepared.
Final Thoughts
You can't expect to avoid facing maintenance concerns altogether, so how you handle them makes all the difference. If you plan a repair fund, check the house condition regularly, and know what to do when an issue arises, you'll overcome it in no time.
With these tricks, you can minimize the stressful aspect of homeownership while maximizing the benefits.
