You will have to agree that home maintenance is serious business. Not only is it critical to keeping your home healthy and safe the way you wanted it to be, it is also a crucial way for you to increase your home’s value.
After all, your home is an investment in and of itself. And just like any other investment, you need to make sure that it’s protected at any cost… regardless of how costly it is to make repairs and home maintenance projects!
From modern prefab homes to antiquated Victorian-style dwellings, it is essential to check for and resolve structural and design issues every now and then. Still, you will have to realize that home maintenance doesn’t come cheap. It’s expensive as much as it is tedious.
Fortunately, there’s a way for you to get around this issue. If you have a limited budget, you can use this guide to repair your home without breaking the bank.
#1 Gather a reserve fund
If you have just moved into a new home, you will need to calculate the expenses you will have to shoulder. From property taxes to HOA fees to utility bills, these are costs that you will need to write off every month. But aside from these usual expenditures, you will also set aside a fund for financing home repair projects. Call it a contingency fund if you must, what matters is that it allows you to save just about enough for repairs and other home improvement activities. Set aside at least 10 percent every month so that you will be able to collect enough funds for resolving structural issues.
#2 Do minor repairs on your own
To save on the costs of hiring a contractor to repair your home for you, it’s much more practical to repair minor issues on your own. A leaky faucet and creaking floorboards are just some of the smallest considerations that you can do on your own. As long as it’s manageable, you can save yourself a great deal of money if you’re the one who’s making all the effort.
#3 Know what needs to be done
Set your priorities first before deciding on a home improvement project. Sometimes, you are tempted to renovate a room or change broken tiles, but you will have to determine if whether or not these are worth doing immediately. Is a broken floor tile at the kitchen more important than a leaky roof? If you have a limited budget to spend, you will have to decide on what’s the most important thing you will have to do.
#4 Never settle for quick fixes
Most people would think that a minor structural issue can be patched up. But the thing is, these issues can result in more costs in the future if they are left untreated. For example, if you seal a leaking roof using basic sealants, you will have to replace the seal every now and then. Try to add up the money you have spent for the sealant. Instead of going this route, you should be able to implement long-term fixes. That way, you won’t have to waste energy and money for an issue that can always be resolved permanently.
