A Few Dollars Today May Save Thousands Tomorrow
Bound Brook, NJ Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - Whether the housing market is booming or cooling off, most experts agree that homeowners can''t simply assume that their investment is safe. The experts at HouseMaster® suggest that homeowners invest in a home maintenance inspection to ensure there are no major conditions in need of repair.
"There is not much a homeowner can do about the unstable real estate market, or declining home prices, but there are plenty of simple maintenance items that can save them thousands of dollars in the long-run by preventing major repairs," says Kathleen Kuhn, president and CEO of HouseMaster® Home Inspections, the oldest and most experienced name in home inspections. "Some of the major problems we find in homes we inspect can be avoided with an investment of just a few dollars, if you know where to spend it."
At the peak of the recent hot seller's market, it was not uncommon for a buyer to drop their contingency to get a home inspection in hopes of making their offer more attractive. Yet a home inspection serves a much greater purpose than simply providing information that might be used to negotiate a sales contract"it educates the homebuyer on the condition of the home. A professional home inspection should detail the type of systems in the home, whether they are functioning properly or exhibit readily apparent defects and/or might be approaching the end of their service life.
"If you've never had your home inspected, you may be living in a home with hidden defects that contribute to the ongoing deterioration of elements leading to costly repairs, simply because you were unaware that they existed," suggests Kuhn.
The best way to protect your real estate investment is to maintain it. Most homeowners, especially those who opted not to get a home inspection when they bought their home, could benefit from an objective 'once over' maintenance inspection of the home's condition by a professional home inspector to help prioritize repair needs and take care of minor problems before they become major problems.
Routine home maintenance can save homeowners a bundle, but need not cost a fortune. Some of the common problems identified by home inspectors can be avoided with routine inexpensive maintenance. The following items can typically be performed by a handy homeowner for less than $50:
ITEMS IN NEED OR REGULAR MAINTENANCE:
• Seal roof flashings
• Clean gutters
• Caulk exterior trim, windows and doors
• Replace missing roof shingles
• Extend or install downspouts or splash blocks
• Apply deck preservative
• Trim trees near house and roof
• Re-grout bathroom/bathtub tile
• Clean/replace kitchen exhaust fan
• Check for termite tubes or carpenter ants
• Clean clothes dryer vent
• Vacuum air ducts
• Change furnace/AC filter
• Fill in low spots at foundation with soil
POSSIBLE RESULTS OF IMPROPER MAINTENANCE:
• Roof leakage
• Improper roof drainage; basement leaks
• Water seepage and leaks
• Basement leaks, flooding and soil erosion
• Premature wood wear
• Damage to roof and siding
• Loose tiles fall out; allow water seepage
• Grease build-up can cause a fire
• Structural damage
• Clogged vent can cause a fire
• Dirt/mold build-up can lead to health concerns
• Clogged filters reduce efficiency and economic life of equipment
• Basement leaks and flooding
While a small investment in time and money may be necessary for a maintenance inspection of your home, the experts at HouseMaster say it is better to be safe than sorry.
"A good rule of thumb is to estimate that routine periodic home maintenance, assuming no major problems are found, will cost a homeowner from one to three percent of the home's sale price on an annual basis," says Kuhn. While actual costs will depend on the age, design, and/or the degree of prior maintenance, an average $300,000 home will require from $3,000 to $9,000 per year for maintenance.
"A homeowner who makes the necessary yearly investment will save in the long run, because routine maintenance can help avoid larger, more expensive repairs that can add up to tens of thousands of dollars," concludes Kuhn. "It's like giving your home its annual physical."
About HouseMaster HouseMaster has franchises in more than 350 cities in North America. Each franchise is an independently owned and operated business. Collectively, HouseMaster has performed nearly 2 million inspections since 1979. For more information about home selling and inspection, visit www.housemaster.com or call 800.526.3939.
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