7 Ways Home Maintenance Saves Money

In this article: We explore seven ways you can save money by keeping your home well-maintained.

by Andrea Norris-McKnight

Many home maintenance tasks are tedious chores that some homeowners would rather postpone. However, a proactive approach to caring for your living space can do more than ensure aesthetic appeal. Home maintenance is an investment that can lead to substantial financial savings over time. In fact, regular home maintenance saves money in seven different ways.

The next time you find yourself procrastinating on a home maintenance task, think about how performing it can save you money in the following ways.

Ways Home Maintenance Saves Money

1. Prevents Bigger Issues

Regular maintenance can prevent potential issues from becoming problems or minor problems from escalating into bigger, more expensive ones.

For example, fixing a small leak found during an inspection of your roof can prevent major water damage and mold growth, which can be costly to repair.

2. Helps Avoid Emergency Repairs

Regular maintenance can help you avoid emergency repairs, which are often more expensive than scheduled repairs due to the urgency and potential for after-hours service fees.

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3. Extends the Lifespan of Appliances and Systems

Properly maintaining appliances and home systems, like your refrigerator or HVAC system, can extend their lifespans. You won’t have to repair or replace them as often, which can save you significantly in the long run.

4. Increases Energy Efficiency

Keeping your home and appliances well-maintained can increase energy efficiency, lowering utility bills.

For example, cleaning the filters in your HVAC system or the coils on your fridge allows these appliances to run more efficiently, using less energy.

5. Aids in Maintaining Your Home’s Value

Regular maintenance keeps your home in good condition, which can maintain its value over time. This is especially important if you plan to sell your home at some point and can mean fewer repairs before listing your house for sale.

6. Preserves Warranties

Some warranties require regular maintenance to remain valid. By keeping up with required maintenance tasks, you ensure that you’re still covered under the warranty if something goes wrong.

7. Ensures a Safe and Healthy Home Environment

Regular maintenance can also ensure the safety and health of your home environment, potentially saving on medical bills due to poor home conditions like mold or mildew.

Regular Home Maintenance Pays Off

Rather than thinking of home maintenance as a series of tedious chores, consider it a smart financial strategy for ensuring your home environment’s durability, safety, and efficiency. The old adage “a stitch in time saves nine” holds when it comes to home maintenance, where small efforts can prevent large-scale financial burdens down the line.

Here are some tips for performing DIY home maintenance tasks:

Reviewed February 2024

About the Author

Andrea Norris-McKnight took over as the editor of The Dollar Stretcher and After 50 Finances after working under the site founder and previous editor for almost 15 years. She has also written for Money.com, GOBankingRates.com, HavenLife.com and The Sacramento Bee.