Unless your home is brand new (and sometimes even then), it likely needs repairs. Most of us have a list of fixes we’ve probably been ignoring or putting off for months…or maybe even years. It can seem like a challenge to find the time for home repairs when we have kids or careers that are demanding our attention, and there are so many other priorities taking up our to-do lists.
Even though we might not want to do repairs on our homes, there are some repairs that can end up becoming a lot more expensive if they’re let go. It’s also important to go ahead and tackle that repair list if you’re planning to sell your home.
One of the biggest reasons we dread repairs? Along with the convenience factor, it also tends to get costly very quickly. Even what seems like a minor problem can end up being thousands of dollars when all is said and done.
The following are some easy ways you can get to your list of needed repairs, and save money while you’re doing it.
Buy Your Own Materials
If most of your repairs are more challenging, or you’re simply not that handy, you’re probably going to hire a professional take care of the labor aspect of the work that needs to be done around your home. If so, rather than having the person who will be doing the work buy the supplies, do it yourself. You can save money if you’re paying someone on an hourly basis, particularly if they like to extend their shopping trips, and you can also take the time to look for the best deals on everything that will be used on your project.
Visit Salvage Stores
In addition to buying your own materials, you might also want to consider shopping salvage stores. You can often find high-quality items that are much less expensive than what you would find at a big box store. Salvage stores can be an excellent resource if you want to save money on not just repairs, but even home upgrades.
Think About the Season
Contractors and home professionals are influenced by the seasons, so think about this when you’re timing your repairs. For example, if you need to do repairs to your furnace, the worst time to do that is going to be the fall. This is when everyone else is likely doing the same thing, and heating professionals can charge a premium. Instead, try to do something like this in spring. Need repairs done to the exterior of your home? Don’t do it in spring. Instead, try to time this for winter when contractors are slow and more likely to give you a deal.
Do Some of the Work Yourself
Even if you’re not a DIY pro, you can likely do some of the work yourself, which will save you at least a portion of labor costs. For example, if you’re doing repairs to your flooring, you could start the demo process. Even if you can do a bit of the work and give the contractor a head-start, your labor bill is going to be less expensive.
As a final note, you can negotiate with contractors and other home professionals, so don’t be afraid to do that when you get an estimate.
