As long-time home owners will tell you, costly household repairs make you miss the good ol’ days of calling your landlord to come and fix things “quickly, if you can.” But since routine maintenance comes with the territory when you own your own home, we’ve listed a few tips on how you can save some cash on those (inevitable) repairs.
Budget. It. Out. You got it—as in, make a budget for your projects. Many people end up spending a lot of money on their home repair projects simply by getting big ideas then and out-doing themselves. Set a budget from the beginning and try your best to stick to it. And remember to be practical. You don’t have to do everything all at once. Instead, consider staggering your various projects over the course of the year.
FYI on the DIY. Everyone wants to save money. And many times, that means taking things into your own hands. For this reason, the do-it-yourself approach is usually the best bargain in town. But be careful. Taking on a task for which you’re not qualified (like rewiring an electrical outlet or installing new flooring) could cost you more in the long run. Hunker down, but keep in mind you might need to hire a professional later to undo all the well-meaning but harmful work you did. Pro tip: YouTube and many home improvement stores have DIY videos on their websites that walk you through simple fixes.
No time like the present. Being proactive never hurts. Some fix-it jobs like a crack in the kitchen tile or leak in the ceiling are only going to get worse over time. It’s less expensive to fix a small problem right away than to wait, as it typically gets worse before it gets better. Additionally, keep in mind that other problems, like broken window frames or loose stair treads, can cause safety issues if not handled promptly.
Be quotable. For the bigger jobs, make sure you shop around for the most wallet-friendly price. Most contractors are willing to work with you for a lower price if they know you’re speaking with other shops. However, the lowest quote isn’t always the best deal. Try to go with established repair professionals over a mutual friend who’s good with tools. Also, chain locations might be a bit pricier than your local neighborhood repairman. Support the little guy, y’know?
So, all you home-repairing savvy savers, give these tips a try! Most importantly, enjoy the upcoming spring and home repair weather. All the hard work and (smart) spending is well worth it in the end.
