Owning a house is not only convenient, but it’s a huge responsibility and involves a lot of expenses. Not only mortgage or costs of home insurance, but there are also various maintenance, decoration, and repair costs that can be quite high. Although many repairs, and expenses that come with them, are inevitable, some of them can be prevented or at least postponed for some time. We’ve selected three expensive home repairs to avoid in Greensboro that will help you make your home maintenance as easy and as rare as possible.
Are you planning to sell and move away?
Are you planning on moving and selling your current home? Before you list your Greensboro property, you need to make sure that it’s in good condition. Therefore, hire a reliable contractor. They will be able to look around your home and give you an estimate of what needs to be fixed. By repairing what’s required, you will increase your home value and improve your chances of making a good sale.
But before you finalize the sale, make sure to start planning and organizing your move. It can never be too early as you want to have an easy and hassle-free relocation process. The best way to achieve this is to hire reliable and experienced movers. Even if you are in for a long-distance move and relocating from one part of North Carolina to another, a good moving company will help make everything go smoothly.
Now, there are expensive home repairs to avoid in Greensboro in order for your property to always be in top-notch condition.
Repairing the roof
One of the most important home projects is maintaining the roof. A damaged roof can cause water to leak into your home, which can further cause mold, rot, mildew, insects, and electrical shorts. Therefore, your roof is the first line of defense against any weather condition.
Caption: If you notice that water leaks into your home or there are missing shingles on the roof, make sure to hire professionals to check it and repair what’s needed.
Alt: A damage to the roof is one of expensive home repairs to avoid in Greensboro.
As the roof ages, due to normal wear and tear, it requires more repairs and maintenance, which can really hit your pocket. This varies depending on the size of the roof, materials used, and weather conditions in your area.
How to prevent damage?
To prevent any significant damage, try the following:
- Hire professional contractors to inspect the condition your roof is in. You should do this periodically – usually, ten years after the roof has been installed and every 3 to 5 years afterward.
- Inspect the roof by yourself occasionally, especially after a big storm. You might be able to identify some more minor issues that are easy to repair.
- Keep your gutters clean and make sure they are not clogged. This prevents ice dams from forming. That way, when it rains, water has a place to go.
- If you are yet to build a house and install a roof, choose metal roofing. The price might be higher, but it’s built to last around 50 years, while regular roofs have an average life expectancy between 15 and 30 years.
Foundation issues
The foundation is structurally the most important part of your home. It serves as a base for your entire house. If it is not in good condition, it’s a potential safety hazard.
If you live in an area where soil tends to contract during droughts or swells when it rains, your foundation is at risk. Not only are foundation repairs expensive, but they are also very complicated and require you to hire some outstanding builders.
If you are planning to sell your home, make sure to check the foundation. If there are any issues, address and resolve them before listing your home. Although you can sell your house in Greensboro as-is, many buyers want to get a property that doesn’t require any additional investments, especially not any major ones.
Caption: Cracks on the wall could be a sign that your house has foundation issues.
Alt: Cracks on the white wall.
How to prevent damage?
Here is some advice on how to prevent potential damage to your house foundation:
- Inspect your home regularly. If you catch any issues early, they are much less expensive and complicated to fix. Look for cracks in brick or block foundations as they might be a sign that your house is sinking.
- Install a sound drainage system, especially if you live in an area where it tends to rain a lot.
- Use soaker hoses around your house in periods of drought to keep the soil from becoming too dry.
Plumbing issues
If you already put your house on the market and you have a plumbing issue, it could definitely be one of the reasons your Greensboro home isn’t selling. It can really discourage potential buyers as the repairs can be extensive and very costly.
Even if the problem is minor, the repairs can be quite expensive because the issue can’t always be easily found due to pipes being hidden. Therefore, check your home for leaks and pay attention to knocking noises as they could indicate a potential plumbing issue.
Caption: As pipes are hidden in the walls, it can sometimes be very difficult to locate the source of the issue.
Alt: Two faucets on a white wall.
How to prevent damage?
Although plumbing issues can occur even if you take every necessary precaution, there are some things you can do to minimize the risks:
- Installing a sump pump is a good investment as it protects your basement from flooding. The water activates the pump, which then sends the moisture through a draining pipe. This way, your carpets will remain dry.
- Keep your drains in good shape. Once in a while, check if there are leaks under the sinks around your home. Also, try not to pour grease down your kitchen sink, and make sure to put a shower drain screen to collect hair. You don’t want any pipe clogged.
It can happen to anyone
These expensive home repairs to avoid in Greensboro are sometimes actually unavoidable and beyond our control. The most important thing is to not wait for the last moment to fix an issue. It can turn from a really small problem to a major one if not treated as soon as it’s found. If you pay enough attention to your home, you’ll be able to prevent whatever can be prevented. However, if you believe that your Greensboro home is beyond repair, you can always sell it for cash and use it to invest in a more profitable property.
If you have any of these situations reach out to AIP House Buyers in Greensboro, NC. We buy houses that need extensive repairs.
Fill out our form or Call/text 336-707-5223