Five ways to save money on home repairs

BLURB: Yes, the faucets are leaking and there’s a rather moldy patch on the wall outside the bathroom. Maybe you should change that loud dishwasher too. But these are going to cost you a fortune! Perhaps, there are simple ways to prevent these problems or cheaper ways to solve them? Here are some tips that will help you with this issue.

Well, summer is almost over and with its departure comes many a problem. With the families spending the summer months out and about, soaking up the sun and swimming around in the pool, it’s easy to forget about getting prepared to meet the winter season. Summer is the time when many weather-related repairs or simple maintenance issues crop up. With the holidays just around the corner, you’re likely expecting visitors too. If you want to enjoy the cold season with friends and family, instead of mucking around with repairs and breaking the bank, then read on to discover five simple ways in which you can deal with repairs. And, don’t forget, you could save money too if you handle them right.

POOL PROBLEMS

Swimming pools are a great way to de-stress in summer, and it’s the place where your family will most probably spend most of their free time to escape the heat. And in the midst of all this activity, there are chances of minor leaks and cracks developing in the pool. If these are left unchecked they could blow up into a bigger, more expensive problem in winter. Perhaps the ice might expand the crack or bring out other problems that will leave you with a big bill.

So, before you close your pool at the end of summer, drain the water and check for any leaks. You can add some food coloring to the cracks. That way, you will be able to easily spot them. Once you know that there are spots to fix, go to your local pool store to buy a compound to fix it. And there, you just saved yourself a ton of money!

MOULDY MESS

Water problems can happen at any time and summer is probably the season you might have maximum damage. So, you must always be aware of what’s going on in your home in order to spot problems quickly. It can be anything from AC units running constantly during the summer or a leak in the bathroom that has spread downwards. If you let it be, your property could face some serious damage by the end of the season. In order to understand how serious it is, it’s important to know that water problems will lead to mold, mildew and eventually, wood rot and more structural damage. And these are harder to repair in winter!

Since labor costs to repair such problems are high, think about doing some of the work yourself. Of course, before you do decide to get your hands dirty, it’s imperative to do some research about how to remove mold. It can also help you figure out if this is something you can do by yourself. Remember, if the area has toxic mold then you must hire an expert to help you fix the problem. Another way to prevent mold from growing is to use large fans and dehumidifiers near the wet spot until it gets dry.

DEALING WITH A STORM

Some areas are very prone to summer storms and if you live in a place that has many hurricanes, hailstorms and such, it’s useful to prepare yourself and your home to face the damage. Storms can damage ceilings, skylights, windows, and can even send trees crashing into your home. So, it’s important to always have insurance for storm damage. And then, get down to the problems and start working on repairs immediately. If you delay fixing the problems until winter comes, then it could lead to more problems like water logging and so on.

To prevent extensive damage, take the time to cover areas damaged in the storm in order to avoid water seepage and other damages. When the weather has settled down, contact your insurance and make sure you know exactly what you’re dealing with.

After this, it’s time to negotiate with contractors. Avoid working with those who lowball their prices because you may end up having to hire another contractor to fix their work. Get quotes from reputable contractors in your area, then talk to each one about potential discounts or a better deal for the project. Ask them to separate the cost of materials and their labor fees so you know how much you’re actually paying for their workmanship. Find out if purchasing materials yourself is an option, as this can offset some of the costs.

THE DRIVEWAY

When you are looking at other repairs all around your home, don’t miss out on an important part of it – the driveway. It’s all too easy to overlook, but issues in the driveway can be potentially dangerous if left untended.

Look for potholes or cracks that may have developed over the last winter and work on them towards the end of summer. That’s probably the best time to do it since the weather isn’t too hot and the cracks have had time to cure from the last winter. This is probably the easiest area to repair yourself, so go ahead and give it a shot. You can save up on labour costs by filling in cracks and potholes with Portland cement.

FIRE IT UP

With the summer just beginning to fade out, it’s about time the time you begin remembering your furnace again, while the air conditioners slowly begin their winter slumber. But with no attention for months, the furnace could have problems that you don’t even know about yet. Usually, you will experience these issues when you don’t want them, in winter, and then run up high bills to keep the house warm and comfortable.

So take the time before winter sets in to look at your furnace. It’s always a good idea to clean up your furnace, to begin with. Make sure the filter does not have any dust, debris or mold. A quick inspection will reveal if your furnace needs any quick repairs. Getting these small issues taken care of now will keep larger issues at bay all winter long.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

At the end of the day, the tips only tell you one thing: That it’s your responsibility to be vigilant about the home you live in and to take good care of it. It’s always good advice to be proactive about the care you give your home and prevention is always better than cure when it comes to homes as well. Apart from all this, it makes economic sense to take care of the space you live in. After all, it’s where you spend a lot of your quality time and it’s your comfort zone. So, take good care so that it will be ready to protect you when winter rolls around while keeping your money where it belongs – with you.