Where Shouldn’t You Cut Corners When it Comes to Home Maintenance?

Everything is getting more expensive by the day these days. Because of that, it’s totally understandable that you want to save money when it comes to home maintenance. However, sometimes, when it comes to repairing your home, cutting corners can actually cost you more in the long run. There are quite a few circumstances where it pays to spend more money to avoid things going wrong a few months or years down the line. The last thing you want is to have to continuously spend money on repairs to your home, so let’s take a look at those times where it’s worth letting the professionals do their job.

Electric work

You don’t need us to tell you that it isn’t safe to do any work with electricity in your home unless you’re qualified and know what you’re doing. Lots of homeowners make the mistake of having a family member or friend that “knows what they’re doing” to fix any problems with electricity in their home, and then end up regretting it later. You want your home to be safe and not be at risk of electrical fires, shocks or even death. So, if there are any problems within your home that involve electricity, spend the money and call in an electrician. 

Plumbing

Plumbing is another area where you’re better off calling in the professionals. While there may be some tasks you can do by yourself like unclogging a sink or the toilet, there might be bigger jobs that aren’t worth trying to cut corners with. We’re talking bigger things like cast iron pipe repair or septic tank maintenance. One wrong move with things like that and you could end up with leaks and serious water damage that’s going to cost you even more to rectify. 

Security

Your home is your safe haven. It’s the place to return to and breathe a sigh of relief knowing you can finally relax. You’ve worked hard for your home, so why risk it all and cut corners when it comes to securing it? Even if your neighborhood doesn’t necessarily have many instances of theft or break ins, why risk it? And we’re not just talking about a bolt on the front gate either. We’re on about security cameras, alarms, motion detection lights, security doorbells, the lot. While buying and having it installed might be a cost, isn’t the safety of your family and everything you’ve worked hard for absolutely worth it? We think so!

Home insurance

While this one might not technically be “maintenance” per se, it is an area that many homeowners cut corners in. You might even think to yourself that home insurance is a waste because you don’t think anything bad will happen. However, you simply cannot predict the future. You never know when things are going to break or whether a freak storm will hit and cause failures around your home. You don’t want to end up wishing that you had it if something happens, so make sure that you take out a decent policy that will cover all of the important aspects of your home like boiler cover, accidental fire and flooding. Home insurance can even be useful for smaller repairs too, so make sure you’ve got it!

Insulation

But my home already has insulation, why do I need to think about it? While your home very likely does have insulation, have you actually checked the condition of it? Firstly, if your home was built after the 1930’s and you haven’t had it checked for asbestos, now is the time. Secondly, insulation deteriorates over time, and while your home might be benefitting from some insulation, it won’t be as good as it should be. Once every few years, it’s important to check the integrity of your home’s insulation. Not only does it help keep your home warm, but it also helps keep it cooler in the summer too. And, you’ll be saving money on heating and cooling your home if your insulation is working properly too. Don’t cut corners with it – get it checked!

HVAC

Speaking of heating and cooling your home, when was the last time you had your HVAC serviced? While it’s totally possible to do some maintenance yourself like cleaning the filters, it’s important to get it regularly serviced. While this might be a cost you don’t fancy paying for, you could be losing money if you don’t. If your HVAC isn’t working properly, it could be costing more to run it, therefore wasting your hard earned money. A service once a year should suffice, but if you notice anything out of the ordinary, don’t put off getting it repaired!

Roof maintenance

Roof maintenance isn’t something many people think about until there’s a problem. And, when there is a problem, it’s very likely going to cost you a pretty penny or two. To avoid this, make sure you have your roof regularly checked for any cracked, broken or missing tiles. One or two out of place tiles repositioned or replaced is going to cost you much less money than having to have half of your roof retiled. Not only that, getting the professionals in to check and make smaller repairs will save you from going up there and being at risk of falling.

Waterproofing 

Finally, this is another area people don’t think about until it’s too late. No water is getting into your home, so why would you need to waterproof it, right? Over time, weather will wear down seals on the outside of your windows, doors and the foundation of your home. And, while there might not be any signs inside just yet, it’s slowly weakening the foundations of your home. That’s why at least once every few years you should take the time to check the seals around your windows and doors, and check the foundation of your home for any signs of weakness. It will allow you to tackle problems early rather than having to pay out huge amounts for water damage repairs.