8 Hacks and Tricks to Reduce Home Maintenance Costs
Owning a home is a dream for most people. But whether you buy a house or rent an apartment, owning a home can be very expensive. The costs can go up quickly when you have major repairs. A bill from an electrician or a plumber can quickly eat into your budget.
But if you can avoid frequent repairs, you can live comfortably without worrying about unnecessary expenses. And the only way to do that is by putting enough time and effort into home maintenance. Here are eight ways to do that on a budget.
Know Your Surroundings
Your surroundings can have a huge effect on the maintenance needs of your home. For example, if you have a lot of trees, you will need to spend more time on your plumbing and roofing. If you live in an apartment, it is wise to know your surroundings as well. It can give you a heads up in case natural problems such as flooding hit your area.
Do Maintenances At The Right Time
Most homeowners identify problems with their HVAC when they turn them on during hot seasons. They end up looking for HVAC specialists and pay emergency fees.
Similarly, you don’t have to wait until you notice a problem to schedule home maintenances. Instead, have a clear time to carry out general home inspection and maintenances. That way, you will live comfortably without worrying about anything going wrong. Additionally, you will save hundreds of dollars by avoiding emergency repair costs.
Perform An Energy Audit
A home energy audit or home energy assessment can assist you to understand your energy consumption. When done correctly, the audit can help you know how much energy you use, where you’re losing and which issues to address immediately to make your home energy efficient.
If you want to save money on home maintenance, then getting an energy audit should be your first step. Sealing a few loopholes or cracks in your electricity bills can make a huge impact on your costs.
After an assessment, you can even consider adding renewable energy such as solar panels to your home. The assessment can also help you make informed decisions such as what type of water heaters to buy when replacing the old one.
Cut Back On The Lawn
Although a lush, verdant lawn may appear great in your outdoors, it can also increase your expenses exponentially. To maintain a beautiful yard can be an expensive undertaking. However, there are many ways to reducing these costs, from xeriscaping to concentrating in native plants. That way, you will spend less time and money mowing your lawn and reducing your water bills.
Share Tools And Equipment With Neighbors
Having the right tool for every home maintenance job can be very costly. But if you can talk to your neighbors and share these tools, you can reduce such costs. For example, you can buy a craftsman drill press then share with a neighbor who will then offer you what you don’t have when you need it.
The arrangement can also extend to items like a lawnmower. Although one person can mow at a time, the entire cost of buying and maintaining that lawn will be negligible when cost shared.
Deep Clean Regularly
Whether it is sweeping your sidewalk or cleaning your air conditioner, cleaning things minimizes wear and tear. For example, dust accumulation can shorten the lifespan of important equipment such as an air conditioner.
Deep cleaning appliances and different parts of your home regularly can also help you spot small issues before they escalate. You will not notice a crack in a wall unless you move close to it.
Consider Hiring A Handyman
Sometimes, you may not be able to do everything on your own. There are projects that need an experienced handyman or someone who can do it at a fraction of your time. Therefore, build a relationship with a reputable handyman who can help you to determine the right people for certain projects or even train you on routine tasks so you can do them later on your own.
Create A Home Maintenance Fund
Although home maintenance costs less than home repairs, it is a good idea to create a fund for it. With a proper home renovation budget, you can even include the cost of getting services from reputable companies without affecting your cash flow. And when maintenance is done right, the cost of repairs will also reduce significantly.
Home maintenance is inevitable. With a careful plan and these tips, you can reduce its cost to a minimum and enjoy staying in a well-maintained home.
