Don’t Put Off Home Repairs

This is a guest blog done by Kathi Fleck of LoneStar Property Solutions. You can read an interview she had previously done with Design Build Planners here.

“It is most important to take care of repair items as they occur, whether inside your home or on the exterior. I regularly see homes needing repair in addition to the desired updates the homeowner requests.” – Kathi Fleck

There is nothing that holds up a project like unexpected repairs. Even if the repairs were known about, it’s completely possible for homeowners to put off maintenance tasks until a major project is being done. When going into a remodeling project, it’s usually fairly obvious if maintenance has been deferred or not. If it’s been put off for too long, the overall cost of the project the homeowner wants to do becomes greatly increased by the necessary repairs that will need to be done along with it.

Water Damage is the Major Factor in Costliest Repairs

One of the most common necessary home repairs are the result of water damage. Sometimes the damage isn’t even visible until it has become a major problem. In any case, water damage should be repaired as soon as possible. Especially when it comes to wood, you want to deal with any leaks or other sources of water infiltration before rot sets in. Mold can also be an expensive thing to remediate. If remediation and/or rot repair becomes necessary, then it’s been put off for too long.

One of the most common areas that often goes overlooked when it comes to home maintenance is the gutters. Improperly maintained gutters often become one of the greatest culprits of water damage, so cleaning them regularly helps to save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars of repair later. Painting the eaves can help to reduce moisture infiltration, or limit any bare wood from being baked by the sun, as well. If you have wooden exterior doors, painting or staining them if they are looking worn is a good idea to also curb preventable moisture and sun damage.

The Importance of Regular Home Inspections

To prevent maintenance issues that may ordinarily go unnoticed, we recommend regular home inspection. A certified inspector can notice problem areas in your home, likely before the necessary repairs become too expensive. The cost of this inspection likely will save you several times the cost of future repairs.

Here are just a few of the common home maintenance concerns to be aware of:

• Are there cracks in the drywall? This could be a sign of foundation issues.
• Is wood or is paint chipped and/or peeling? These are potential signs of water damage.
• Old electrical wiring and water heaters can be both inefficient and fire hazards and should be replaced with newer products.
• Check that doors close and latch properly, and check for soft/spongy trim – another sign of water damage.
• Are windows foggy? Feel drafts from the cold or are rooms too hot? Are the windows properly caulked? Windows may need to be replaced with more energy-efficient models.
• Check outlets, switches, lights and ceiling fans for faulty wiring
• Check for plumbing leaks. Valves and supply lines older than 10 years may need replacing.

These are only some of the concerns that a regular home inspection will detect. It’s important to make repairs as soon as any water leakage or potential fire hazards are found. The money spent now will save potentially many thousands of dollars of water or even fire damage repairs later.

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