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For a more detailed list of routine home maintenance items, take a look at this .
Routine maintenance doesn’t add any value to your home, but hopefully will prevent your systems from wearing out before their time or causing problems such as leaky basements.
Even if you do routine maintenance, you will eventually have to repair or replace just about everything mechanical or exposed to the weather.
In the St. Louis area, most furnaces, air conditioners, hot water heaters and roofs last for about 15-20 years. If you purchase a 14 year old home, you probably have some big expenses looming. Of course, it is unlikely that everything will go out at the same time. I have a furnace that is 25 years old. It could break tomorrow or last another 5 years.
While a roof may have a 20 or 30 year warranty, it’s common for homeowners to replace a roof long before the warranty is up. We get hail storms every spring in the Midwest. My first home had a 5 year old roof when it was hit by hail and replaced through my insurance policy.
The bottom line is that unless you purchase a new home, you should plan to make some repairs each year. These repairs do not increase the value of your home since buyers assume that everything is working properly. After working with hundreds of buyers, I can assure you that very few of them were willing to pay more for a house because it had a new roof or furnace.
Cosmetic updates are the things that you do to your home to keep it appearing updated and fresh. Replacing 10 year old carpeting isn’t improving your home, it is simply taking away a blemish on your house that would devalue it compared to your neighbors.
Every homeowner should plan on spending around 1-3% of the value of their home annually to make cosmetic updates and repairs.
One important factor to consider before you make any improvements is evaluating if the changes you are planning will appeal to the majority of buyers.
If you decide to improve your home by turning your backyard into an English garden, or replace your outdated kitchen counters with brand new BLUE counters, you may find that buyers will see your improvements as a negative that devalues your home.
If you want to discuss how the cosmetic updates or home improvements that you are planning will affect your home’s value, please to discuss the current value of your home vs the value it would be worth with the updates.
Sometimes it is worth making the changes to your home, even if you won’t get the money back, because you will be happier in your home. I think that’s a valid reason for making the changes. But before you spend any money, you deserve to know the facts so you can make an informed decision.
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