Are you procrastinating on a home improvement project? If so, you’re not alone. Plenty of homeowners have a long list of deferred maintenance projects, from plumbing inspections to roof repairs. Frequently, homeowners wait until the roof is leaking or another emergency comes up that needs to be addressed immediately.
These kinds of home repairs can become significantly more expensive the longer you put them off. Today’s pipe clog can turn into tomorrow’s sewer backup — and the sooner you replace your roof shingles, the sooner you’ll protect your home from the kinds of leaks that require you to replace your ceiling or your carpets.
Plus, home improvements can increase the value of your home — whether you pay for those improvements in cash, take out a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) or work with a service like Unlock to get the cash you need to tackle deferred home maintenance projects.
Here’s what you need to know about how to get your home repairs off the to-do list as quickly as possible — and how to do it without breaking your budget.
Home maintenance projects people commonly defer
Home maintenance can take a lot of work— which is why deferred maintenance projects are so common! Here are five of the most commonly deferred home improvement projects:
- Roof: You can often prevent the high cost of a roof replacement with simpler, less-expensive repairs — but only if you don’t put off regular roof maintenance.
- Pipes: Hiring a trusted plumber to do a yearly pipe inspection could prevent costly pipe repairs in the future. Get your pipes checked annually for clogs and leaks.
- Chimney: If your home has a chimney, it needs an annual cleaning to prevent buildup. During this yearly maintenance project, your chimney specialist can also caulk any potentially leaky areas.
- Water heater: Hot water maintenance is an essential part of homeownership — so make sure you understand your water heater manual and know when to bring in a professional for servicing.
- HVAC: It’s usually easy to change your HVAC air filters yourself, so add them to your home maintenance to-do list. If your HVAC system is no longer heating or cooling as quickly as it used to, it may be time to bring in a professional — or shop for an upgrade.
Why are these projects deferred?
Often, home improvement projects are deferred for three reasons: time, money and uncertainty.
If you don’t know whether you can do a home repair yourself or need to ask a professional for help, you …….
Source: https://www.bankrate.com/loans/personal-loans/how-to-start-home-maintenance-projects/