Homeowners should not have to deal with surprise repair bills that could damage their economic health. As winter approaches, creating a safety net of preventative maintenance is all the more important. Experts from various sectors recommend a series of proactive measures to enhance home safety and efficiency, emphasizing the importance of consistent checks and timely repairs.
Matthew Harwood, a home insurance expert from Confused.com, encourages homeowners to test the batteries of their smoke alarms at least once a month to keep their families safe. Similarly, Fire England echoes this recommendation. A regular schedule of testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms will help you avoid a potentially tragic outcome. Smoke alarms are widely and cheaply available, with prices starting from £1.80 at Wickes and £1.55 at B&Q.
Higgins further emphasizes the costs associated with under-maintaining our assets. A boiler breakdown in the middle of winter brings significant financial and logistical hardships. “A boiler breakdown in winter is both a financial and a practical nightmare,” she states. On the customer side, Checkatrade aims to get homeowners into the habit of factoring maintenance into their budgets. Plan to budget at least 1-2% of your property’s total value annually. If you stay in an older building, expect a lot of maintenance. If the property is more than 20 years old, it’s prudent to reserve for 3-4% of the value in annual maintenance.
Periodic maintenance, such as an annual gutter cleaning and biannual roof inspections, can provide a significant long-term return on investment. Nathan Blackler, home insurance community navigator for GoCompare, has been sunny to busting people’s myths about gutter-damage claims. Maybe if the gutters are all clogged or broken, some insurance providers won’t honor those claims. This highlights the critical role of preventive maintenance in protecting communities from needless economic damage.
Even small roof fixes can prevent thousands of dollars worth of damage to the interior of a home. Higgins states, “A relatively inexpensive roof repair can prevent far more costly internal water damage.” To make inspections more accessible to the average homeowner, consider using binoculars to scout for damaged tiles while safely remaining on the ground.
Homeowners can purchase inexpensive measures such as drain strainers and coil drain cleaners that fight clogs before they develop. Teresa Paul, director of sustainability category development at Wickes, endorses the products. With proper implementation, these tools can get ahead of the problems, prevent blockages, and keep drainage systems running at peak capacity.
Regular maintenance of appliances is essential. According to Hotpoint, kettle filters and their housing should be deep cleaned every three months. This practice is the key to longevity and efficiency.
Home maintenance isn’t just the right thing to do to keep your home in good repair – it’s directly connected to your insurance coverage. Otherwise, he says, a fire alarm that is broken or not properly cared for will ultimately fail. It can lead to being excluded from fire insurance coverage in the case of an unfortunate accident. “If your fire alarm is broken, hasn’t had the necessary maintenance, or there are faulty wires that haven’t been replaced, your accident could be excluded from your fire insurance policy,” he explains.
Checkatrade estimate the cost of a typical boiler service to be between £70 and £110. In comparison, the cost of a new boiler ranges from £1,200 to £2,000. This dramatic disparity underscores the importance of persistent maintenance to keep appliances running in good condition and prevent costly replacement bills.
To prepare for unforeseen repair costs like broken fences or heating failures, financial experts suggest setting aside money in a dedicated savings account each month. Sue Hayward underscores this importance by stating, “Protect yourself against the cost of unexpected repairs by putting money aside in a regular savings account each month.”
Home maintenance is not just about keeping the house in good shape; it also has implications for insurance coverage. Harwood warns that if a fire alarm is faulty or has not been properly maintained, it could lead to exclusions from fire insurance policies in case of an accident. “If your fire alarm is broken, hasn’t had the necessary maintenance, or there are faulty wires that haven’t been replaced, your accident could be excluded from your fire insurance policy,” he explains.
According to Checkatrade, a standard boiler service costs between £70 and £110, while a new boiler can range from £1,200 to £2,000. This stark difference highlights the value of regular servicing to maintain appliance function and avoid hefty replacement expenses.
Budgeting for Unexpected Repairs
To prepare for unforeseen repair costs like broken fences or heating failures, financial experts suggest setting aside money in a dedicated savings account each month. Sue Hayward underscores this importance by stating, “Protect yourself against the cost of unexpected repairs by putting money aside in a regular savings account each month.”