The Foundation
Small crack in your brick, block or stone foundation are no big deal? That’s not always the right answer. You may need to hire a structural professional to evaluate your home’s foundation. If an issue is caught early, a repair might only cost a little. However, if you are too late you’re looking at one of the most expensive home repair jobs possible – perhaps thousands of dollars.
The Roof
Water leaking into your home is Way Too Late, to begin worrying about a new roof. However, if you check your roof regularly – say every four or five years – you may be able to fix a small problem instead of having to replace the entire roof.
The Septic System
Many rural homeowners rely on septic tanks for their sewage systems. These break down solids and liquefy them. That liquid then goes out into the lines and is dispersed into the surrounding ground. These tanks are highly susceptible to clogs from other materials, like cigarette butts, plastic and food waste. Save yourself the cost of digging up your yard to repair the whole system and opt for a cheaper maintenance alternative: pumping the tank every 3 to 5 years and having it professionally checked.
Old Electrical System
Homes built prior to the 1950’s didn’t have to meet the same requirements for power that are now a standard in home construction of recent years. With all of the home appliances that we all enjoy, older wiring just can’t handle today’s electrical demands. Sockets and switches can wear out, breakers grow less reliable as they age, and heavy use of extension cords could lead to a fire.
Forestall these larger problems with a thorough electrical system inspection. If your home doesn’t meet current codes, you’ll want to bring it into compliance to help avoid a major fire hazard.
The Crawl Space
When it comes to maintenance and repair, the out-of-the-way and untraveled crawl space is one of the most overlooked areas of the home. But because the crawl space is like the window into the belly of your home, it could also hold the key to revealing any number of problems before they get bigger and expand to other areas: weakening floors, termite damage, and even issues with your heating and cooling ducts. Grab a flashlight and routinely take a peek at this normally ignored area. If you are not certain what to look for, call a professional.
The Furnace and HVAC Unit
When your heating system goes, the only real fix it is to replace the furnace, which will cost upwards of $6,000. Keeping your system properly maintained can avoid that costly replacement.
Hire an HVAC professional to come and inspect everything to make sure the system is running smoothly.
Paint and Exterior Features
We often let the exterior of our home wait until a complete paint job is needed – probably many thousands of dollars. Periodic washing, removing mold and touching it up can often prolong the life of your home’s exterior for many years.