5 Expensive Home Repairs and How To Avoid Them With Regular Maintenance

Being a homeowner sure can be expensive. From the down payment to the monthly mortgage to renovations and upgrades, sometimes it feels like your investment is more like a money pit.  Worst of all, the home repairs listed below are difficult to budget for, as they’re almost impossible to predict. The average homeowner spent a total of $4,832 on routine and emergency home repairs excluding any major repairs in 2019. This makes major repairs every homeowner’s nightmare. Some of the most expensive home repairs have the ability to wipe out your entire yearly maintenance savings and possibly more.

With this guide, our property management experts identify the worst home repairs for your wallet and offer expert insights into early detection and preventive maintenance, so you’ll be more prepared and save money in the long run.

Roof

Without proper inspection many homeowners are faced with a roofing bill too soon. Especially in warmer climates roof that are exposed to the elements and especially heat should inspect their roof at least once a year. It happened a few times where the inspection report came back that the house needed a new roof and the owner is shocked when it’s only been 10 or 15 years on 25/30-year shingles.

Estimated cost to replace the roof: 

  • Low end: $3,000-$5,000
  • Average: $5,000-$8,000
  • High end: $8,000-$12,000

Warning signs:

  • Damaged shingles
  • Missing flashing on chimneys or wall intersections
  • Unhinged Nails
  • Water marks in ceiling or attic
  • Leaks, Streaks, or Stains
  • Ice buildup on your roof after a freeze-thaw cycle

For icing issues you’ll want to fix that problem right away. Ice on your roof gets under shingles causing early wear. It can even affect the integrity of your roof if left too long. Preventative maintenance on your roof can prevent rain and snow from getting in under them and causing major damage.

Key prevention tactics:

  • Keep an eye out for warning signs
  • Clean out clogged gutters to prevent ice dams from forming and allowing water to leave.
  • Keep an eye on moss, cleaned with a 50/50 mix of chlorine bleach and water.
  • Trim back trees overhanging the roof, as branches too close to the house can scratch off the protective layer of shingles.

Foundation

Your foundation serves as the base for your entire home. It needs to be in solid condition for the rest of your house to remain structurally sound. Foundation issues can also be safety hazards, so fixing problems quickly is essential. Foundation repair is also extremely costly, easily running into the tens of thousands.

Estimated cost to repair: 

  • Minor Crack: $400-650
  • Major Work: $10,000+

Warning signs:

  • Doors and windows that won’t shut properly or are misaligned with their frames
  • Cracked or bowing walls
  • Fractures above windows or door frames
  • Sloping floors
  • Water gathering around the house or in the basement
  • Burst hose bib

Key prevention tactics:

  • Fill in any cracks with a cement mixture and install drainage solutions to halt the changes in moisture levels
  • Regularly check for cracks in foundation
  • Sloping drain water at least 5-10 ft away from the home

HVAC System (Heating & Cooling Systems)

HVAC system such as heat pump, boilers, furnace, and evaporators for houses or fan coils for most condos keep your home at a comfortable temperature for its residents. Despite most HVAC equipment having a life expectancy of 15-20 year for heating equipment and 10-15 years for cooling equipment. Nevertheless, many times they fail much sooner than that if you do not keep up with the proper maintenance.

Estimated cost for replacement: 

  • Low end: $3,000-4,000
  • Average: $4,000-$6,000
  • High end: $6,000-$15,000
  • Minor Repairs: $200-500

Warning signs:

  • Inaccurate Thermostat
  • Inconsistent Temperatures
  • Strange Noises
  • Strange Smells
  • Indoor Humidity

For icing issues you’ll want to fix that problem right away. Ice on your roof gets under shingles causing early wear. It can even affect the integrity of your roof if left too long. Preventative maintenance on your roof can prevent rain and snow from getting in under them and causing major damage.

Key prevention tactics:

  • Inspect the HVAC system every year
  • Change the filter regularly
  • Clean the furnace
  • Clear out the condensate drain and check refrigerant level and replenish as needed. This prevents dirty coils from ruining the HVAC system
  • Clean the ducts every 2 years to reduce the work load of the system as a dirty air duct can lead to higher pressure within the system causing the HVAC system to constantly work harder than it needs to be

Water Damage

Water is one of the most common (and preventable) reasons for property loss. Water damage can occur due to freezing pipes that burst, from leaks on the seal of drainpipes, or from an exterior hose bib as mentioned in the section above.

If a pipe leak is discovered quickly, damage can be minimized, but if the water runs for several days before discovery, the losses can be into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Estimated cost for replacement: 

  • Low end: $1,000
  • Average: $3,000
  • Mid-range: $5,000

Warning signs:

  • Bubbling or peeling paint on your walls
  • Stains and water marks on your walls or ceilings
  • Damaged flooring
  • High water bills
  • Low water pressure
  • Odd plumbing sounds

Key prevention tactics:

  • Take good care of your drains: Don’t pour grease down your kitchen sink and check under sinks around the house to make sure drains aren’t leaking on a regular basis.
  • Install a sump pump: sump pump protects your basement from flooding. When the pump senses water, it activates and sends moisture through a discharge pipe, keeping your carpet nice and dry.
  • Check for damaged siding and repair it right away: Look for any discolored areas on your home’s siding, fascia, or soffit, which can be a sign of rotten or decayed wood. “You use a screwdriver to push into the wood to see if it penetrates the wood,” says Kennamer. “If so, it will need to be replaced.”

Electrical Issues

Hidden inside the walls makes this job impossible to DIY. Adds in the safety factor, and that’s why this is another repair that is best dealt with by a professional. Make sure you don’t put this one out as the problem can grow exponentially and even cause a fire.  Some of the old homes still have knob and tube wiring or aluminum wiring, both of which are fire hazards. In case of a full rewiring, the cost will be significantly higher.

Estimated cost for full rewiring: 

  • 1,000-1,500 square foot home: $1,000-$6,000
  • 2,000-2,500 square foot home: $4,000-$10,000
  • 3,000 square foot home: $6,000-$12,000

Warning signs:

  • Flickering lights
  • Circuit breakers that blows frequently
  • Appliances issues
  • Wall socket issues
  • Visible damage to your wires
  • Burning scent

Key prevention tactics:

  • Check the system every 1-2 years by an electrician
  • Cover bare wiring
  • Pro Tip: Install GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets in the bathroom and kitchen, areas that may come in contact with fluids. GFCI outlets interrupt an abnormal current flow and reduce the likelihood of electric shock.

home repairs

 

Wrapping Up

Are you facing a major repair and want some guidance on finding the right company to do the repair? Do you want to use a management company to reduce the chance of these repairs happening with the proper preventative maintenance? We can help with home repairs!

Reach out to us at 604-227-2077 or hello@refinityhomes.com

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