8 Ways To Make Major Home Repairs Less Expensive

There’s no denying that significant home repairs can leave most homeowners with a sinking feeling. As a homeowner, you have to bear the cost of any maintenance and repairs to your abode, while your insurance will take care of anything that causes significant damage.

Of course, not everyone can afford to pay for any vast repair bills, not without borrowing money to cover those costs. But, what if there was a way of carrying out repairs in or on your home without spending lots of money to complete the work?

The following tips and tricks will help you to make any major home repairs less expensive:

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1. Learn How To Do The Work Yourself

One of the best ways to save yourself a fortune in repair costs is by carrying out repair work yourself. Did you know that any competent DIYer can do most home repairs with the correct instruction and tools at their disposal?

For instance, YouTube makes it easy to access thousands of videos that detail how to carry out everyday tasks like fixing leaking faucets or repairing roof tiles. It’s also possible to invest in books and DVDs that provide expert guidance on carrying out many repairs.

You may even decide to learn a new skill by enrolling in a night course, such as learning about plumbing or electrical wiring.

2. Repair Rather Than Replace

The sad truth is that today’s society encourages people to replace broken things instead of having them repaired. In most cases, it’s possible to perform repairs that return items to their former glory.

One example is the roof of your home. If you’ve got a few broken or missing roof tiles, some contractors will recommend a complete replacement because they feel it’s likely more tiles will come away from your roof.

The truth is, if your roof is otherwise in good condition, it’s crazy to spend so much money on having a new roof installed when you can quickly and cheaply install some new roof tiles and repair your roof to a high standard.

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3. Be Selective Of Replacements

Sometimes you might not have any choice but to replace damaged or missing things in and around your home. For instance, you might have a window with a wooden frame, but the wood has significant rot damage.

In such cases, it’s a good idea to use a window service and have a professional company remove the remnants of your window and install a brand new one in its place. When opting for such moves, keep in mind that you should be selective of the work you have done.

Yes, you might need to have one window replaced. But that doesn’t mean you need to have all of the windows replaced or all the ones on the same level as your broken window. 

4. Don't Borrow Money To Pay For Repairs

It’s not uncommon for people to take out loans or use their credit cards to pay for expensive home repairs. Such a move ensures they have the money necessary to cover all repair costs, and they can worry about paying their borrowing later.

The truth is, borrowing money to pay for repairs is seldom a good idea. Firstly, you have to pay interest charges on any money you borrow, and credit cards are worse than loans for lending due to compounded monthly interest.

Secondly, if you cannot afford to meet your repayment obligations, it could result in negative consequences for your credit score and additional fees to pay, such as for late payments. That’s why it’s a better move to use cash you’ve got in your bank account to pay for repairs.

5. Don't Rush

If you don’t need to make urgent repairs, there’s no point rushing to get them done and potentially putting yourself in financial strife. It makes more sense to take your time, either by waiting until you amass the money needed for the repair or carrying out the work slowly.

Some repairs don’t even need to get considered yet, let alone carried out. That’s why you should wait it out until you reach a stage where action must get taken. 

6. Reuse Materials You've Already Got

You might feel that a repair can only get carried out using new materials if it’s to stand the test of time. Sadly, such a statement is nothing more than an illusion. The cost of using materials you’ve already got is 100% cheaper than buying something new.

Another reason to reuse materials you’ve already got as part of your home repairs is that you divert those items from ending up in landfill sites. So, not only are you saving money, but you’re also boosting your green credentials.

7. Don't Pay Full Price For Materials

Sometimes you might not have any choice but to buy new materials for any repair projects in your home. One of the top mistakes homeowners make is paying full price for the items they need to complete their repairs.

When you buy anything in your life, you’ll likely check if you can get a good deal by comparing prices from various businesses. You must apply the same concept to building materials and other items needed to complete home repairs.

8. Get People To Help You

If you decide to go down the DIY route as per the first point in this article, and you’ve got a big project ahead of you, it would be a good idea to ask people to help you. Those you ask could be your spouse or partner,  relatives, friends, or even co-workers.

You will likely find some willing participants to help you, even if you have to bribe them with food and drinks or barter with them somehow. Moreover, it can be a fun experience for all those involved and one that presents an opportunity for bonding.

If you can’t find anyone willing to help you, it might be possible to ask for help (in exchange for cash) if you advertise your project on a website like Craigslist.

This is a contributed post.

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