The Hidden Costs of Ignoring Minor Home Fixes
Ignoring minor home fixes never leads to anything good, and before too long, you will be facing a whole host of problems. A proactive approach to property maintenance helps reduce risk and prevent major issues. From snowballing issues to increased stress, here are some problems.
Costs Continue to Get Bigger
Loose tiles, leaky taps, drafty windows! There seems to be no end to the problems around the home every season. However, leaving these small issues can spiral into major ones. Whether it’s weather-related damage that requires roofing repair or general wear and tear around the house, costs will only get larger when you neglect small problems. In today’s economy, you probably need all the money you have just to keep the heat on, so take a proactive stand!
Ignoring Minor Home Fixes Snowballs Issues
One small problem can quickly escalate to many larger ones. Of course, money can be the issue, and a UK survey found that around 40% of homeowners worry about the cost of home maintenance. However, the costs can be kept to a minimum if you address them quickly:
- Ignoring a problem results in a cycle of constant repairs that don’t seem to end.
- Unexpected repairs take time and money, and you may need time from work.
- Problems that get bigger end up adding to insurance costs and monthly expenses.
More Structural Risk
There are various fundamental parts to the structure of a house, and these are usually the most complex and costly to repair. The roof, foundations, and support beams are good examples. A small leak can become a major one, and water can damage any of these with issues like rot and mold. However, a leak can also pose a fire hazard, as water can drip onto electrical components. It is recommended that you check the structure often and act quickly if needed.
Ignoring Minor Home Fixes Costs More in Labor
The average cost of annual maintenance is around 1% of a property’s value. So a $200,000 home costs around £2,000 per year to maintain. Therefore, crafting a safe and comfortable home does cost money. However, it will cost a lot more if you don’t act fast when required:
- Repair services that need to come out ASAP often pay their workers more for overtime.
- Because of the urgent nature of unexpected repairs, you are likely to be billed more.
- There are also often extra jobs that come from one repair, only adding to the overall bill.
Lower Home Value
With so many problems, the burden can become too much, and a home can fall into disrepair. When this happens, it loses a lot of value. Buyers don’t want to purchase a home they have to put work into unless they are getting it for a lot less than you paid for it! However, that means you will lose money on the sale. If necessary, it can be best to take the hit if things are pretty bad. But that isn’t fair on you, so it really pays off in the long term to maintain your property.
Ignoring Minor Home Fixes Causes Stress
A home is supposed to be something that adds to your sense of personal security and not something you need to worry about. However, 68% of homeowners get stressed about the work that goes into maintaining a house, and the stress can be a pretty heavy burden to handle:
- The financial strain alone can be a huge burden for homeowners to cope with.
- Worrying about small issues becoming large ones can be a constant source of anxiety.
- Stress and anxiety can cause problems with family life and even in your career.
Disruption and Inconvenience
Even in the most minor of cases, problems with your house can cause severe disruption and inconvenience. For example, even having some roof tiles fixed can take a few days. During this time, you may not be able to live at home, especially in winter, as there will be workers in and out, severely low temperatures and bad weather. This alone highlights the need for regular inspection and preventative maintenance that keeps your house in tip-top shape all year round.
Summary
The costs of repairs will get bigger when you ignore minor home fixes as they lead to larger issues. Even if you DIY some problems, there are issues that need an expert and labor costs can also get pretty big when an urgent repair is needed. However, even the smallest problems can cause stress, anxiety and disruption to your home, work and family life when neglected.
