Repairs are an unfortunate reality for home owners. Even if you buy a newly constructed home, eventually repairs will be needed in some areas. Planning and budgeting for these inevitable repairs makes them much easier to deal with. At Zillow, Mary Boone put together a list of common repairs you can expect to make to your home after a few years of ownership. While some of these can be repaired yourself, others may require a professional.
- Garbage disposal
On average, a household garbage disposal is expected to last about 10 years. However, if a kitchen disposal is used often or isn’t cared for properly, it’s likely to last much less time before needing repairs or replacement. New units with professional installation are likely to cost a few hundred dollars, but minor repairs can likely be performed yourself. Jams or clogs are typically fairly simple fixes, but eventually a blade, impellor or motor will probably need replacement. For these more major repairs, buying a brand new unit is sometimes more cost-effective. If you do decide to work on your own disposal, be sure to take proper safety precautions.
- Plumbing
Backed up sinks and clogged toilets are also part of being a homeowner, but don’t necessarily qualify as actual repairs. Plumbing problems do occur, however, and even something seemingly minor like a dripping faucet could be costing you money each month. For example, the EPA reports that leaks in an average household waste more than 10-thousand gallons of water every year. One in 10 homes have leaks that lose at least 90-gallons each day. These leaks may not even be evident without some investigating. To check your home, check your water meter, then use no water for 2-hours. Check it again and if the meter reading has changed, there’s a leak somewhere. Check your toilets by dropping a small amount of food coloring in the tank. Wait 15 to 20 minutes and see if any of that coloring has made its way into the bowl. If so, there’s a leak. When a leak is found, it usually a good idea to hire a licensed plumber to fix it and investigate the rest of your plumbing.
- Paint and siding
High quality paints and siding can stand up to lots of abuse and last for years. Even the most durable paints will need touch-ups eventually, however and severe weather may accelerate that need. When paint starts to chip or crack, or siding is damaged, your home becomes more susceptible to rain, wind and insects. Sanding and painting the trim around doors and windows is a simple job for homeowners and will likely need to be done every few years. A full exterior paint job typically costs at least a couple thousand dollars, but waiting could increase costs as weather and insects do more damage. Other exterior materials on your home, like stucco or brick, also need regular inspections and repairs.
If your home is constructed out of high-quality materials, like our homes at Perry Hood Properties, you’ll have the luxury of living in it for years before repairs are needed. Even so, knowing these types of repairs are likely eventually will help you properly plan for them and potentially prevent them for longer.
If you’re ready for a new home in Tulsa, Bixby or Broken Arrow, browse through our currently available homes or call us to start construction on a custom home.