{"id":17945,"date":"2018-08-29T06:40:52","date_gmt":"2018-08-29T06:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/?p=17945"},"modified":"2024-04-26T19:25:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T19:25:06","slug":"5-unexpected-home-maintenance-costs-and-how-to-handle-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/5-unexpected-home-maintenance-costs-and-how-to-handle-them\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Unexpected Home Maintenance Costs And How to Handle Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- SEO Ultimate Plus (https:\/\/seoultimateplus.com) - Code Inserter module -->\n<script async>(function(s,u,m,o,j,v){j=u.createElement(m);v=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0];j.async=1;j.src=o;j.dataset.sumoSiteId='b68b392479b5981b8acf46565e9fe32a0734fc21a1f7c1e60121eaa6ca1a1c64';v.parentNode.insertBefore(j,v)})(window,document,'script','\/\/load.sumo.com\/');<\/script>\n<!-- \/SEO Ultimate Plus -->\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buying a home is a significant step forward in everyone\u2019s life. For many, making this dream come true involves a mortgage, a ton of paperwork, insurance, and maintenance costs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being a house owner is expensive &#8212; with or without a mortgage to pay. Experts advise us to save <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebalance.com\/home-maintenance-budget-453820\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one percent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the house\u2019s yearly maintenance costs. So, if you\u2019ve spent $200,000 for a new home, set aside $2,000 yearly to keep your property in good shape. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some years, you may not spend all this money. While other expenses can go way beyond $2,000. So, save the amount annually and keep it in an emergency account. Because you never know when some hidden maintenance expenses show up. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are five unexpected home maintenance costs that can burn up your budget, and how to handle them. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pest Infestation<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17950\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/mouse-trap-2846147__340.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"509\" height=\"340\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/npmapestworld.org\/newsroom\/industry-fact-sheet\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The National Pest Management Association<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1 in 5 Americans has had a bedbug infestation in their own homes or knows someone who had to handle this issue. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, termites cause more than $5 million in property damage every year. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pest infestation is dangerous, puts your family\u2019s health at risk, and can destroy your home. No wonder that all <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/socalhomebuyers.com\/los-angeles\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tips to help you sell a house in Los Angeles<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and surrounding areas include having proof that the property has no pest problems. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An insect control service costs between $50 and $500 &#8212; the national average is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homeadvisor.com\/cost\/environmental-safety\/hire-an-insect-control-service\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$172<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, the costs of pest control services can reach thousands of dollars, depending on where the problem is located, whether the infestation occurs in a limited area or the entire house, and how many times the professional team has to return to clear the infestation. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of the time, you can prevent infestation by doing simple things:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fix any leaking appliances or pipes;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t grow trees or bushes too close to the building;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Declutter your home and your yard;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Store your food in airtight containers to keep away ants;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vacuum and clean your floors on a regular basis;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep your trash can closed and clean;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inspect the walls and foundation for cracks and holes &#8211; if you find any, seal them as soon as possible. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lawn Care<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17949\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/mowing-the-grass-1438159__340.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"340\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A beautiful lawn doesn\u2019t come free. Whether you decide to take care of it yourself or hire a professional, you should expect to have lawn expenses in your budget regularly. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To minimize costs, you need to curate the lawn all year round. From cutting grass to watering and fertilising, something must always be done. You must also do soil aeration and weed control to keep your lawn healthy, beautiful, and pest-free. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have to lend or buy special tools to perform various operations each season, which add up more expenses. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hiring a professional start from $100-200 a month, depending on your location, lawn size, and the types of plants you\u2019re growing. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Removing Mould<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17948\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/brick-wall-3194516__340.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"509\" height=\"340\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mould grows in moist environments, where they find organic materials to feed themselves. Such areas are window frames, drywall, insulation, or even flooring. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mould can damage your home and put your health at risk. The Institute of Medicine found evidence that exposing yourself to mould indoors can cause a series of respiratory issues, such as shortness of breath, cough, and, in some cases, asthma. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the size of the contaminated area, mould removal can cost thousands of dollars. However, if you clean it right from the start, you can solve the problem for less than $500. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To avoid mould, you should control the moisture levels inside your home &#8212; it shouldn\u2019t be higher than 50 per cent all day long. If you see small spots that look like mould on hard surfaces, you can clean them with a bleach solution (1 cup of laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water). <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Replacing or repairing the roof<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17947\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/window-3300080__340.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"524\" height=\"340\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The roof is vital to keeping your home at its best, so you must ensure it is always in excellent condition. This will prevent damage to your home. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a guideline, a roof should last 20 to 50 years, depending on the materials used to build it, the weather, and the quality of the installation. To ensure this, you should inspect the roof twice a year\u2014in spring and autumn. Check the attic ceiling for water stains or other signs of leaks. Look for missing or broken shingles and tiles, as well. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The average expense of roof fixing is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$650<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Minor fixing costs between $150 and $400, while significant repairs can cost you up to $3,000. If you\u2019re supposed to spend more to fix the issue, it\u2019s better to consider replacing the entire roof. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plumbing<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17946\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/plumbing-840835__340.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"340\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Water damage is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the second most filed<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> insurance claim in the US. The sad part is that 93 per cent of these incidents can be prevented.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most issues start with an easy-to-fix leak. Since plumbers charge between $45 and $150 per hour, at this early stage, you won\u2019t spend too much for this small job. Plus, fixing the leak can help you save on your water bill. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conversely, water damage can generate high expenses due to property losses. So, take the time to check your faucets, sinks, bathtubs, and toilet for any leak that can cause home damages. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep Your House in Good Condition! <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your home is one of the most substantial investments you\u2019ve made. By taking care of it, you protect your family and your money. Most of these maintenance costs are easy to prevent. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking good care of your house means small costs regularly. Postponing these things can put your home at risk. Plus, they can generate huge expenses. If you do have an unexpected cost, maybe it\u2019s a good idea to take out a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">small loan<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to help with the initial cost. Keep your house and lawn clean, have your walls, foundation and roof inspected by professionals once or twice a year, and pay attention to all small details that can become major issues. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This way, you\u2019ll keep your house and savings account in excellent condition!<\/span><\/p>\n<h6>Ref number: THSI-2454<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Buying a home is a significant step forward in everyone\u2019s life. For many, making this dream come true involves a mortgage, a ton of paperwork, insurance, and maintenance costs. Being a house owner is expensive &#8212; with or without a<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/5-unexpected-home-maintenance-costs-and-how-to-handle-them\/\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":17951,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wl_entities_gutenberg":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","spay_email":""},"categories":[7,1,16],"tags":[],"wl_entity_type":[602],"modified_by":"Editor","_wl_alt_label":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/new-home-1540889_960_720.jpg","wl:entity_url":"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/post\/5_unexpected_home_maintenance_costs_and_how_to_handle_them","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17945"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17945"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17945\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30728,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17945\/revisions\/30728"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17945"},{"taxonomy":"wl_entity_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wl_entity_type?post=17945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}