Home repair and maintenance is a necessary part of owning a property. It involves the diagnosis and resolution of problems at home, as well as preventive measures to avoid such issues. Home repair is distinct from home improvement, although many improvements can result from repairs or maintenance. If your property has trees, it is important to have it inspected by a certified arborist.
This professional can check for signs of disease or dead branches and detect problems before they become more serious and potentially kill a tree. The untrained eye may miss signs of damage, and a dead or dying tree can be a danger to your safety, your home, and neighboring properties. Even if you don't use the fireplace often, it still needs regular checkups. A fireplace transports hazardous gases from your fireplace, wood stove, or oven out of your home, helping to keep the air inside breathable.
According to the United States Chimney Safety Institute, your chimney should be inspected annually and cleaned regularly based on how often you use it. Once the leaves fall, call a gutter company to clean and inspect your gutters. Any repairs that need to be done to the gutters or downspouts must be done before winter arrives. Your workers should also inspect the roof for loose or broken shingles.
Schedule work before heavy snow, which could leave frozen leaves and debris in gutters, faucets, and hoses. Before freezing for the first time, drain and close the outside faucets so that they do not freeze. Roll up your hoses and store them for the winter. Maintaining your furnace and ducts is also important. A clean system will be more energy efficient and an inspection will alert you to any potential problems.
Check and replace air filters as needed. Check your thermostat to make sure it's working properly. Make sure the heating grilles are open and nothing blocks them. If you didn't clean and inspect your chimney in the spring, call a chimney sweep now and do so before you start using your chimney or furnace. Clothes dryers cause 2,900 fires a year, with many fires occurring in fall and winter according to the U.
S. Fire Administration. Lint is a major culprit, so have your dryer vent inspected and cleaned annually by an HVAC specialist who specializes in dryer vents or ducts. The programs and resources listed below help homeowners with home repairs and improvements. However, some repairs cannot be avoided.
Buyers may want a discounted rate based on any problems their home may have or ask you to replace or repair systems that may cause issues in the future. And while DIY repairs can be beneficial, we've all seen the effects of overestimated skills or spending untapped home maintenance talent. When in doubt, calling a home repair contractor for a job will ensure that the project is done well and safely. However, not all homeowners would benefit from home repair insurance, and some may already have coverage without realizing it. If something that is covered by your home repair insurance policy breaks, first call the company that issued the policy. Selling your home with unpermitted upgrades can be tricky, but even some small repair and maintenance projects require city permits. Like homeowners insurance, the cost of home repair insurance varies widely depending on the level of coverage. If you think about home repairs and the people doing the maintenance, it's easy to see how two different groups of people separate and approach solutions with completely different attitudes.
Be sure to assess the cost and risk associated with any home repair before deciding to address it yourself. Most home warranty companies only repair or replace systems and appliances if the homeowner has tried to maintain them. Home repair insurance is a stand-alone policy that can cover some of the coverage gaps of a standard homeowners insurance policy. Without an established order, these are some of the most common home repairs that every homeowner should know about and prepare for. Some home repair problems are easy to fix while others can lead to financial ruin if they happen at an inopportune time.
