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Making Repairs Now Will Save Money Later
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CONSUMER ALERT
Home repairs are one of the leading con games of scam artists. Be wary of repair services that offer to come to your home and make a free inspection, warns the U.S. Postal Service. The "repairs" typically are poorly done, with low-quality materials - if the repairs are done at all.
few dollars spent on the maintenance of your home is never wasted. But you may be missing the areas where neglect can mean expensive trouble in the future.
Check out these areas for repair and maintenance:
n Roof review
One of the most expensive repairs facing homeowners is a new roof.
Most replacements can be avoided with small, economical repairs, but only if the roof gets a yearly checkup and repairs are made immediately when problems are found
n Plumbing
Get your home's water and sewer systems checked on a yearly basis to avoid rusted or burst pipes that can cost you thousands of dollars later.
n Paint
If you find yourself painting every year, you're using the wrong paint or paint preparation. New technology allows paint to last at least five years. You're better off - both financially and time-wise - with a more expensive effort that includes sanding all wood, priming and two coats of top quality paint.
n Electrical service
You should have an electrician check out your home's wiring every two years. New computers, additional televisions and other appliances enhance your lifestyle, but can also overburden your wiring. Don't take foolish chances.
n Landscaping
Most weekend gardeners plant annuals that give a radiant splash of color and a boost to the spirit. Consider planting perennials instead. Although more costly, they build a lasting garden that will look better every year. Use a quality-grade garden mulch. Leaves and grass cuttings make great mulch, but can increase the number of weeds. Bark and chips are better, reduce work and are worth the extra price.
n Trees
Check the status of your trees for potential rot, cutting away any dead branches. Place a cable between large limbs that might fall on people who may walk underneath. Your insurance company may give a rebate if you put in such cables. Finally, check the root structure of your biggest trees. You might find that one heavy summer storm can topple that maple into your neighbor's yard.
n Leaders and gutters
This is your home's water transportation system. It starts on your roof and ends at the ground and is designed to direct rainwater away from the house. Gutters must be cleaned of leaves and other debris once a year. Failure to do so can lead to leaky roofs - a much more costly endeavor.
n Chimneys and brick pointing
Install chimney guards to prevent birds and small animals from entering your chimneys. Like roofing, small patch jobs to crumbling mortar or cement can avoid a financial disaster in years to come.
Once you've made an inspection of your home, you may decide you need to hire a professional to confirm your suspicions. Follow these guidelines to ensure you get the work done the way you want it at a price that won't surprise you later:
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Get several estimates for every repair job and compare prices and terms. Make sure the company offers free estimates.
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Ask the repair firm for references, and check them out. Inspect the finished product.
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If you sign a contract, make sure a completion date is specified with a cost estimate included.
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Always pay for home improvement work with a check or money order, never with cash. You may want to make installment payments at the beginning of a job, when the work is almost complete, and after the job is finished. Many reputable companies do not require payment until work is completed.
After you've done the mundane and necessary (or even while you're still doing it), you can also have a little maintenance fun. Here are five fix-ups that cost less than $100 each:
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On a cool, dry day, open all the windows in the house for two hours and let the fresh air in. While you're at it, check out which windows stick, need screens, caulking or weather stripping. It's a good way to save on your heating bill when fall rolls around.
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Paint something! Almost anything will do. The porch, garden bench or your front steps are all good candidates. Choose something that is widely seen and that you use all the time. (Don't confuse this recommendation with painting your entire house. This is a small job that doesn't require a lot of money.) Every year I give the small ceiling over my porch a coat of bright blue paint, just to make the house look more cheery.
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Buy the most spectacular birdhouse you can find and fill it with premium seeds. In a few years you'll be a collector of these low-cost crafts. And, best of all, the most wonderful birds will return to your property.
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Plant bare yard spots with wildflower seeds instead of grass. Containers geared to your climate typically can cover about 10 square feet for less than $10. Change the soap and the towels in your bathrooms.
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If you sit outside, be careful of candlelight. Catalogues and home improvement shops sell safe solar lights for $60 to $70. They work for about five hours after the sun goes down and only in areas that get sunlight, but you can install them in an instant. If you don't mind snaking your wire around the shrubbery, low light fixtures can attach to a single electrical source. Digging up the lawn to hide wiring costs $1,500 for the average house, but looks divine and adds safety to outdoor evening activities. 
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