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It is the little things that count the most when it comes to saving on the maintenance and repair costs of your home to avoid paying through your nose later in the year. Getting to keep your home in mint condition means that you will have to get up close and personal but having a plan in place can also make it less overwhelming. These three handy tips will help you take care of the small problems before they get out of hand.
Have a maintenance plan in place
A home, as you know, comes with valuables and your precious belongings that can break or get damaged. Not having a maintenance plan in place can end up having you paying double the amount to get it fixed or replaced. So why wait until the worst happens?
A maintenance plan is a savvy way to save you hundreds of dollars. Think of it as a budget, but for your home. Opening a savings account for those rainy days can come in handy, especially when the thing you need to replace is one of importance.
However, it will be beneficial if you save according to what is within your financial reach. According to ASIC, 17% of Australians fail to follow through with a savings plan due to the goal being unrealistic. This is where knowing your numbers will come in handy.
The rule of thumbs to help you prepare
Your home is not the same as the next and it doesn’t share the same furniture as the next. But there are a few guidelines you can use to help maintain and repair your home. The first general rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t spend more than 5% of your home’s purchase price to repair and renovate your home.
Thinking ahead can save you money, but it can also help you figure out how to use various finance options to supplement your savings. For example, if you need to top up your savings to adequately carry out a renovation project to completion you might consider taking out a renovation loan or using your home loan to cover the costs.
The 1% rule of thumb is another guideline that you consider which means that 1% of the purchase price of your home should be put aside to carry out ongoing maintenance costs. This basically means that if you purchased your home for $600,000 you will need a budget of $6,000 to carry out the maintenance costs.
This doesn’t mean that you will spend $6,000 p.a. on keeping your house in good condition, but it can act as a safety net for fixtures that you will need to carry out. Keep in mind that it could also be subject to change depending on what needs to be fixed.
Try on a coat of paint instead of tearing down the walls
Sometimes you do not have to tear down the walls of your place to have it looking and feeling the way you want it to. Renovations do have their place, but sometimes it can be costly and unnecessary. Australians forked out $8 billion for renovations in the previous year.
You could give your house a facelift by getting up close and personal with problem areas. This means on weekends you could take a walk around your house to see what needs to be fixed or painted to be restored to its former beauty.
A DIY facelift doesn’t have to break the bank. Sometimes all you need is a new coat of paint on the walls, varnish your wooden surfaces colourful cushions on an old couch or the repositioning of furniture in a room which can help you save in the process.
Always keep in mind to constantly assess the condition of your home to see what needs to be trimmed, fixed, or painted to save you time and money at the end of the year.
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