An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
In the housing market, there’s good news regarding mortgage rates and bad news regarding home maintenance.
The good news: Mortgage payments are now lower than rent in at least 22 U.S. metro areas. Zillow Senior Economist Orphe Divounguy tells me that monthly mortgage payments have declined significantly as a result of recent dips in mortgage rates. And, he notes that more than 25% of sellers are reducing their prices, and the housing inventory is 22% higher than it was a year ago.
But here’s the bad news: Home maintenance costs continue to rise. A new report by Thumbtack found that the average cost to maintain a single-family home is $10,433. That’s a 5.9% year-over-year increase. The average cost of maintaining a townhouse has also increased 5.80%, while the average cost of maintaining a condominium has increased 3.81%.
Factors Driving The Increase In Home Maintenance Costs
Jack Erb, senior director of analytics at Thumbtack, tells me there are four primary factors fueling the increase in the cost of maintaining a home.
Macro Inflation
“In the home services sector, professionals are dealing with rising prices for supplies, which in turn affects how much they charge for repairs and maintenance,” Erb says. As construction materials become more expensive, he says these costs are passed along to homeowners.
Aging Homes
The median home in the U.S. is more than 40 years old, and Erb explains that many homes have older systems that require more frequent and complex repairs. “As components like plumbing, heating, and electrical systems age, the cost of maintaining and upgrading them rises, due to the labor and materials needed to bring these homes up to modern-day building codes,” he says.
Climate Change
Extreme weather events, such as heat waves, are placing additional stress on home systems – even as homeowners try to keep their homes cool while lowering cooling costs. And NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center predicts an unusually warm winter, which could extend the need for air conditioning throughout the year.
“Record-high temperatures in many regions have led to increased demand for air conditioning repairs and maintenance, which has driven up costs by over 14% year-over-year,” Erb tells me. And he expects this pattern to continue as the frequency of extreme weather increases.
Supply Chain Issues
“From extreme weather events to worker strikes, the global supply chains can be unpredictable and are often disrupted, leading to higher costs for building materials,” Erb says.
In 17 out of 19 essential home projects, he says there was an increase — although most were small. “There were even slight year-over-year decreases in duct and vent cleanings and water heater maintenance and repairs,” Erb explains.
These are the 19 essential home projects identified by Thumbtack, along with average costs.
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How Homeowners Can Keep Home Maintenance Costs Down
Homeowners can take several steps to manage and reduce their maintenance costs.
Preventative Home Maintenance
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Erb recommends staying on top of small maintenance tasks, like cleaning gutters or changing HVAC filters, to prevent larger, more expensive problems down the road. “Routine care helps extend the life of systems and reduces the likelihood of costly emergency repairs,” he says.
Maintain Your HVAC
According to Richie Drew, vice president of operations at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, if regular maintenance is not performed, it could lead to costly breakdowns at the worst time. “In general, you want to schedule a professional HVAC maintenance check once every year – typically before the peak of summer or winter – and if your unit is older or you often have issues, you’ll want to schedule those tune-ups more often,” Drew says.
In addition, there are DIY tasks that you should be performing, like changing your HVAC filters every month. “A dirty or clogged filter may cause your system to work much harder and be less efficient,” Drew explains. And since people spend more time indoors during cold months, he warns that more skin cells and shed hair can accumulate in your filters. “Homeowners will also want to clean their HVAC registers to eliminate the amount of dust and dirt being blown throughout their system and home — and this can be done using a duster or wand attachment on the vacuum,” Drew adds.
Clean Your Gutters
Cleaning your gutters is another important maintenance task, and according to Joseph Wade, vice president of operations at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, it may be a hassle but can help you avoid water damage to your home, especially at your roofline and in your basement. “All sorts of debris can land in your gutters, including leaves, twigs, seeds and windborne trash like plastic bags — and when this happens, the first part of your home in danger of water damage is the roof, as pooling water can rot your fascia, shingles and the edge of your roofline.”
Wade tells me that if the gutters are overtopped with water, this can damage your home’s foundation. “The water will saturate the soil around the home and can put enormous pressure on the foundation and the walls of your basement, causing cracks that will grow over time,” he says.
To clean your gutters, grab a ladder, place it on level ground and lock it into place. “Hook an empty bucket to the top of the ladder to collect the debris you remove – and make sure you wear work gloves and consider taking along a handheld garden tool like a trowel or hand rake,” Wade says. He notes that those gloves and garden tools can help you scrape waterlogged sludge from the bottom of the gutter. After you’ve cleared away the debris, he recommends using a hose to wash it clean and ensure the water flows uninterrupted through the downspout.
Clean Your House And Windows
Cleaning your house and windows are two other tasks on Thumbtack’s list that can be DIY projects. “A regular cleaning schedule not only helps keep your home looking its best, but also prevents the buildup of dust, allergens, and grime that can negatively impact your health,” says Katie Dills, brand president at The Cleaning Authority. Instead of waiting for seasonal deep cleans, she recommends more manageable weekly or monthly routines. “For example, focus on specific areas each week, such as kitchens, bathrooms, or living spaces, so you can maintain a consistently clean environment without feeling overwhelmed.”
Windows tend to be overlooked, but Dills says glass surfaces can be quite germy. “It’s important to take the time to address streaks and use a sanitizing cleaning solution to remove germs and bacteria that build up over time,” she says.
To clean your windows, she recommends mixing together 1 cup of water, 1 cup of rubbing alcohol, and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Then spray the windows lightly and use a microfiber cloth to wipe any streaks or grime. “Let the cleaning solution sit on any stubborn areas while you work on the rest of the window but wipe it away before moving on, and then use a squeegee to remove excess water, and dry the window completely with a dry towel,” Dills says. And for those who are unable to don’t want to handle this task, she tells me that you can always call the professionals for help.
Clean Your Carpets
Cleaning your carpet is also important to maintain its lifespan and also keep your home healthy. Dills says the dirt and bacteria from your shoes can accumulate on your carpets. “This buildup not only degrades carpet fibers over time but can also hold onto pollutants that may affect your health,” she warns.
Vacuuming at least twice a week can get rid of surface germs. “Start in the far corner of the room and work your way across in straight, overlapping rows,” Dills advises. She says you should move slowly to ensure you capture all dirt and dust — and remember to pull the vacuum backward to catch any debris missed during the initial pass. “For a deeper clean, schedule a thorough steam cleaning every six months, or at least once a year,” Dills recommends.
Maintain Your Lawn
There are plenty of curb appeal ideas that create a great first impression. However, maintaining your lawn is the most important one. “A well-maintained lawn can definitely increase a home’s curb appeal as much as 15%, and healthy lawns and landscapes boost air quality, aesthetics and significantly reduce noise pollution,” says Christopher S. Raimondi, CEO and president at Raimondi Horticultural Group in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. In addition, he tells me that healthy trees and landscapes assist in affecting the Urban Heat Island in positive ways.
“Properly trimmed trees are clearly safer, produce more oxygen, and reduce our carbon footprint in the world,” Raimondi says. And he adds that a comprehensive lawn fertilizer program is beneficial for a lush green and disease-resistant lawn.
Energy Efficiency Upgrades
In addition to routine maintenance and timely repairs, Erb also recommends energy efficiency upgrades. “Investing in energy-efficient systems, like upgraded insulation or modern HVAC units, can help lower utility bills and reduce the strain on older systems,” he explains. Admittedly, there’s an upfront cost, but he says you’ll save money in the long run, and in some areas, also qualify for tax credits or rebates.
Bundle Services
Similar to your cable provider and insurance company, bundling home services may help you save money when outsourcing home maintenance. “Many home professionals offer discounted rates when bundling multiple services together; for instance, combining pest control with gutter cleaning can sometimes result in lower overall costs than booking them separately,” Erb shares.
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