Ever notice how issues with your home seem to spring up at the worst moments, such as a busted pipe before out-of-town guests arrive or an A/C outage right in the middle of the hottest week of the year...hello 2020. These sudden home repairs can cause you a lot of headaches, and if not prepared, a lot of financial grief too. If you want to keep emergency repairs from catching you off guard, follow these tips...
Tip #1: Keep Up With Regular Home Maintenance
Perhaps the easiest way to head off expensive home repairs before they happen is to always stay on top of any maintenance around your house and have home tool kit all stocked up for do-it-yourself, emergency repairs. Spend a few minutes each month checking for common maintenance issues like the following...
Ensure gutters are clear of any debris.
Clean leaves and debris out of basement window wells.
Trim any tree limbs that are growing too close to your home
Change your HVAC system filters. As a general rule of thumb, filters should be swapped for new ones about every three months, but you may need to change yours more frequently depending on your system and household.
Vacuum heat registers, vents and refrigerator coils.
Check your clothes dryer vent and hose for lint buildup. Clean if necessary to prevent a fire.
Contact a roofing professional to check for leaks, loose shingles, or broken tiles.
Give your carpeting a professional steam cleaning.
Tip #2: Get Quality Repairs Done When Problems Arise
Most homeowners will be glad to know that they can do many repairs in their home themselves. For instance, if a drain is clogged and overflowing, a plunger will usually do the trick, and it’s usually pretty simple to repair small leaks around your home.
But for bigger issues, however, you will definitely want to hire a pro.
In fact, some repairs are actually illegal to carry out on your own. Any major work involving gas cook tops or appliances, as well as septic tank issues, can result in voided warranties, serious injury and even legal repercussions if you attempt to tackle them alone. So, if you have a major repair and need a contractor, hire someone trustworthy. You can find experienced help by calling Clean Indeed or checking online resources and websites like NextDoor for local recommendations.
Tip #3: Set Aside Some Savings For Potential Repairs
Even with regular maintenance, it’s impossible to predict when emergency repairs will arise. That’s why it's wise to have an emergency fund set aside for unforeseen repairs. It’s one of the easiest ways to cover home repair costs. If you can spare it, try to set aside at least $2,000 as a sort of “rainy day repair fund” so you'll be less likely to resort to expensive loans and credit card charges in your time of need.
When calculating your emergency savings, think about the repairs your home insurance will not cover. Water damage from sewage, leaks, or mold is often excluded, but the extra costs of water issues do not stop there. You also need to consider any added expenses, like higher utility bills, that may come as a result of emergency home issues.
There are so many joys of being a homeowner, but dealing with unexpected emergency repairs is definitely not one of them. However, you can be better prepared to handle these home emergencies by knowing how to prevent them, being able to find reliable help, and setting up your own emergency savings fund.
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