The Maintenance Costs You Should Be Prepared for After Buying a Home

Buying a home is an exciting milestone that requires extensive preparation, financial planning, and project management. 

When you finally become a homeowner, you'll be proud to have a place to call your own, but with that comes the responsibility of taking care of the property. From the lawn to the roof and everything in between, there are numerous maintenance tasks that come with owning a home. 

In this blog post, we'll talk about the different types of maintenance you should expect to encounter, how often you should expect them, and how to save money for them.

Yard and Lawn Maintenance

One of the most obvious maintenance costs you'll encounter is taking care of your yard and lawn. Depending on where you live, you may have to mow the lawn frequently or even hire a professional to take care of it. 

Other yard maintenance tasks include trimming trees, watering the grass, and maintaining the flower beds. Plan on spending an average of $100 a month divided between your water bill, the tools you'll need, and the supplies you buy. 

To help offset these costs, consider doing some of these tasks yourself so you do not have to pay someone as often and invest in quality tools that will last.

HVAC System Maintenance

Because it is nearly constantly running, your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system requires regular maintenance to keep it functioning optimally. 

This includes cleaning or replacing filters, servicing the system, and checking for leaks or other issues. It's recommended that you have a professional perform routine maintenance at least once a year, which can cost around $200 to $500, depending on the service. 

To save money, it's important that you do not skip over an inspection, and be sure to time your annual check during months with discounts or less demand, like the winter months. 

You could also consider doing some of the safer maintenance tasks yourself, like changing filters.

Plumbing Maintenance

Water is an essential part of any home, but it can also cause damage if not maintained properly. From leaks to clogs, plumbing issues can be costly to fix. To prevent these issues, routine plumbing maintenance is essential. 

This includes drain cleaning, pipe inspection, and septic system maintenance. Expect to pay an average of $180 for plumbing maintenance each year, but this could easily rise if you happen to have a plumbing emergency. 

To save money, check for leaks and clogs regularly, fix issues as they arise to avoid compounding damages, and invest in a drain snake so that you can clear drains without calling a professional.

Roof and Gutter Maintenance

Your roof is one of the most crucial parts of your home, and it's essential to keep it maintained to prevent damage. Regular roof maintenance includes cleaning the gutters and downspouts, inspecting the shingles, and repairing damage. 

Plan on spending an average of $500 a year on roof and gutter maintenance. Be sure to call professionals throughout the year for inspections and minor repairs, and If you have safe means to do so, consider cleaning the gutters yourself to save a little on costs

Paint and Siding Maintenance

Your home's exterior is exposed to a lot of wear and tear from weather, pests, and other elements. Regular maintenance and repainting can help preserve the siding and keep the home looking beautiful. 

Plan on spending an average of $750 a year on paint and siding maintenance. It's important to hire professionals like Precision Exteriors to help you replace the siding whenever it gets too bad so that you can avoid getting moisture damage under the siding and in the house. 

To save money, you can power wash the exterior regularly, to clean off corrosive dirt and grime, and invest in high-quality paint or siding that requires less maintenance.

Final Thoughts

Owning a home comes with many responsibilities and costs. By understanding the different maintenance types you'll need and how often to expect them, you can budget accordingly and save money in the long run. 

Some maintenance tasks, such as yard work, plumbing, and HVAC maintenance, require professional help, while others can be done by yourself with some research and tools. 

Remember, investing in maintenance will help keep your home in excellent condition and increase its value over time.

3 Easy Ways to Reduce Maintenance Costs in Your Home

Maintenance is a necessary part of being a homeowner. It’s one of those expenses that adds up during the year, especially if your house is older. 

There are, however, ways to keep these costs down. With a little dedication and a few smart moves, you can bring down the costs of home upkeep. 

Below are three of the easiest ways to reduce maintenance costs in your home.

Be Proactive

If you really want to avoid some of the biggest maintenance costs for your home, you’ll need to be willing to spend a little money. 

The best way to avoid big problems is to catch them before they happen—and in this case, that’s going to mean preventative maintenance. 

Make sure that you have all of your home’s major systems checked out at least twice a year and that you schedule maintenance as soon as you notice even a minor problem. It might cost you a little now, but it will save you thousands in the long run.

Look at Newer Products

Some of the more common maintenance nightmares for homeowners come from older products. While there’s something nice about not having to shell out for a new system, the truth is that the maintenance on older systems can cost much more over the long run. 

his can even extend to areas like your flooring, in which the upkeep costs of the older floors far outstrips the cost of replacing them with newer vinyl flooring through a company like JDC Flooring. 

You should always check to see if there are newer, more efficient products to replace the failing systems of your home.

Work with Professionals

There’s a reason why some people spend years learning the ins and outs of home systems. While you might be handy with a wrench, you probably don’t have the training or experience to deal with major upkeep issues in your home. 

Unless you are incredibly skilled at DIY projects, trying to do complicated upkeep is actually more expensive when you do it on your own. Try to take stock of your own skills and decide if doing it yourself will really save you time or money. In many cases, you will be better off making a phone call.

There are ways for you to avoid some of your more outrageous home upkeep costs. Be willing to work with professionals, to take care of things early, and to replace older systems. 

If you can manage those three simple steps, you’ll save quite a bit on home maintenance.