What Is The Cost of Deferred Maintenance?
There are many things that factor into the value of your home, from location to style to size. These circumstances are, for the most part, out of your control. However, one of the most important factors that is sometimes overlooked by potential home sellers is the physical condition of the home and its utilities. This is because as people get accustomed to living in their homes, they sometimes find it easier and easier, as time goes on, to accidentally overlook the many small defects that come as a result of wear and tear. This can become particularly problematic for large families with many children, because with so many people causing wear and tear and so few able or willing to repair it, houses can fall into disarray rather quickly. In addition, homeowners are often inclined, when damage does occur, to try to solve the problem with a quick, homemade fix, rather than hiring the proper help. This could mean using tape or glue to remedy extensive pipe problems instead of calling the plumber, covering a leaky roof with tarp rather than replacing the shingles, or re-painting only small portions of chipped paint where entire walls instead ought to be painted.
There are three problems with quick fixes like this. To begin with, they often do more to make a house seem shabby and unkempt than they do to make it seem truly fixed. Even though doing something like using tape to fix a loose pipe may make your house more functional temporarily, it will also make it seem noticeably more damaged and used than it may in fact be. Ultimately–particularly if you are looking to someday sell your house–this is not an effective way to do repairs. Secondly, even though such fixes may momentarily solve your home’s functional problems, in the long run they are actually far more likely to aggravate and exacerbate them. This could lead to big costs down the line, when it comes time to truly repair and replace faulty systems. Thirdly and finally, the odds are that if you are looking to sell your house, do-it-yourself fixes will seem–in the eyes of both your realtor and your potential buyers–to be sores on what would otherwise be a perfectly good home. This could cause your house to sell for significantly less than it is actually worth. Anticipating the extra costs of repairing these shabby, patchwork fixes, prospective homeowners will be willing to pay far less for your home.
Ultimately, deferring the real, sometimes extensive maintenance that must be done to a home is likely to cost more money than you saved by temporarily patching it up. It is almost always better to leave important tasks such as plumbing, roofing, siding and other repairs to professionals who know how to do it right, and, in addition, it is important to do these repairs as soon as possible and not ignore your home’s problems. Take the time to figure out what can be fixed and how. Save yourself time and money.
Have you deferred maintenance? Are you having a hard time selling your house? For a quick, safe way to sell your house today, visit Blue Marble Properties, LLC.