On any given day, the average American home faces numerous potential damage and potential costly repair threats.
That means on any given day, the Average American homeowner faces numerous potential damage or costly repair headaches that can’t be fixed by a 1000 milligrams of Excedrin.
Keeping your home defended from the many threats it faces on a daily basis is an impossible task, but being aware and alert to the most common and likely threats your home faces can give you some peace of mind, and a ready response plan for when disaster strikes.
Not even the most modern and luxurious of new homes is 100 percent immune from the reality of home repair costs. Generally, the cost of repairs each year is around 1 to 4 percent a home’s value.
Here’s Realty Times’ rundown of the Top 5 most expensive home repairs:
- Full Home Rewiring: $4,000 plus.
- New HVAC Units: $2,500 to start.
- Complete Roof Replacement: $5,000 plus.
- Major Foundation Repairs: $10,000-$30,000.
- Plumbing: $2,000 for serious issues.
The best way to stay ahead of potential home repair disaster and saving thousands of Ben Franklins? Stay on top of your home’s maintenance needs.
Homeowners should have a ready checklist of maintenance and routine inspections for their home’s systems and components so they can catch potential problems before they snowball into major repair migraines.
Here’s an essential regular home maintenance checklist every American homeowner should perform:
- Sewer Pipes: Roots from trees living close to your home can clog sewer pipes and cause sewage to back up into your home. Be sure to have a professional sewer and drain company clear your home’s line at least once a year.
- Water heater: Indications of corrosion or leaks mean trouble. Flushing your water heater helps rid it of mineral deposits that can hasten corrosion. Check the pressure release valve yearly to prevent an explosion.
- Wiring: Look for cracks, breaks, tears and anything that looks like a fire hazard. Check outlets and fixtures for anything that might be loose and cause electrocution. Call in an electrician for any needed repairs and adjustments: Wiring is something you don’t want to DYK.
- HVAC: Change air filters every 30 to 90 days to take the strain off your HVAC system and extend its life. Annual maintenance checks by a professional technician for the air conditioning in the spring and the furnace in the fall will allow your home to avoid breakdowns during the hottest and coldest times of the year.
- Roofing: Remember, some of the most pricy and imperative home repair issues come from above and your home’s first line of defense. Undiscovered and unattended to leaks can lead to water damage and rot. Check areas of penetration such as skylights, flashing and vents. Unclog gutters and ensure that downspouts direct water away from the foundation.
- Termites: Forget water, wind and fire, termites pose the greatest threat to your home’s wood structures. Look for signs of their wood-terminating presence and call in a termite control professional and repair any structural damage.
- Wet Basements: The potential disasters are multi-fold: Improper grading, downspouts dumping water too close to the foundation, a concrete patio or driveway angled downward toward the foundation and butting against it. All these issues can cause water seepage and eventually structural damage. Eliminate basement leaks with waterproofing.
- Foundation Damage: Remember, an average $10,000-plus repair bill awaits homeowners dealing with major foundation issues. Inspect the basement, crawlspaces and foundation for signs of water penetration and foundation movement such as drywall cracks, door frames out of square and uneven floors.
- Mold Remediation: Mold growth larger than 10 square feet requires professional remediation due to its serious health hazards. Look for the telling signs of mold: Water stains, water damage and areas of obvious excessive moisture. To prevent mold from growing, eliminate the source of the moisture, fix leaks and properly ventilate any damp areas.
Staying a step ahead of home damage threats can keep you 10 steps ahead of pricy home repairs.
