Tired of constant maintenance chores mounting up around your home?
It happens to every homeowner. To make matters worse some jobs are more urgent than others.
You need to get the boiler serviced but the gutters are overflowing…
Not sure where to start?
Or perhaps even worse…you don’t have the budget for all of the repairs you know need doing right now.
In fact most people don’t.
According to research commissioned by the HomeOwners Alliance, delaying minor repairs results in maintenance bills rising by up to 30% in total.
The good news is that by using the prioritisation method covered in this post.
Homeowners can get on top of general maintenance tasks without breaking the bank.
Let’s take a look.
Table of Contents
In this article, you will learn…
- Why Prioritising Home Maintenance Is Important
- How To Prioritise Maintenance Tasks (The 4-Tier Method)
- Maintenance Tips For Homeowners On A Budget
- When To Hire A Professional For Maintenance
Why Prioritising Home Maintenance Is Important
Few homes will ever have all of the repairs that need doing done at the same time.
Some problems are urgent.
Others can wait several months without any major consequences.
The trouble is that many homeowners aren’t sure which is which.
Research from industry website MyBuilder.com recently revealed that HALF of all British households have less than £1000 saved for emergencies when it comes to home repairs.
These are households that wouldn’t be able to afford emergency repairs such as fixing a broken boiler or leak pipe.
But when emergency repairs are avoided through proper home maintenance prioritisation homeowners can space out costs.
This avoids large unexpected bills caused by emergency callouts.
Plus using trusted handyman services means homeowners know which repairs need doing ASAP versus those that can wait a few weeks or months.
The key is understanding the urgency of different maintenance jobs.
How To Prioritise Maintenance Tasks (The 4-Tier Method)
When it comes to sorting out your home maintenance jobs into tiers think of it as triage.
Some things need doing right away.
Others could wait months before being addressed.
Our 4-tier system helps you understand where each home repair falls in your schedule.
Tier 1 – Safety Issues (Do These Immediately)
Safety repairs are the most urgent.
They usually put people living in the property at risk.
Some examples of safety home repairs are…
- Gas leaks or boiler faults.
- Are electrical wires exposed?
- Have you noticed any damage to walls or ceilings?
- Are any locks broken?
- Does any damage look like it could lead to mould?
If you answered YES to any of the above, DON’T WAIT. Get them sorted immediately.
Tier 2 – Damage Prevention (Do These Within Days)
The repairs in tier two won’t affect anyone’s safety.
If left unchecked, however, they will cause significantly more damage to your home in a short space of time.
That small leak on your roof. It doesn’t seem like much now. But in 6 months time you could be looking at having to replace entire sections of the ceiling.
Examples of tier two maintenance jobs are…
- Roof & gutter issues
- Leaky pipes inside and outside of the property
- Cracked window or door seals
- Damp/condensation issues
Jobs that fall into tier two should be done as soon as the more urgent repairs are complete. (Tier 1)
Tier 3 – Efficiency Updates (Do These Monthly)
These maintenance jobs won’t cause damage to your property if left untouched.
They DO however affect things like the comfort of your home and running costs.
Examples of tier three jobs are…
- Draught proofing doors and windows
- Insulation
- Servicing the boiler
- Bleeding radiators
Jobs in tier three should be tackled during quieter months.
January and February are always going to be busy for most tradesmen. Booksummer and Autumn are often quieter and therefore cheaper.
Tier 4 – Cosmetic Stuff (Do These Last)
Scratched door frames.
Dingy looking curtains.
Broken curtain poles.
Cosmetic jobs are often the most tedious. Because they aren’t urgent in the slightest.
Save them for last.
Maintenance Tips For Homeowners On A Budget
Don’t have a huge amount of money to commit to home maintenance tasks? No problem. Just follow these tips.
Start A Maintenance Fund
The rule of thumb with having enough money for home maintenance is to budget £1 in every £100 your home is worth per year.
For example, if your home is worth £250,000 you should aim to save £2500 per year to cover maintenance.
This isn’t doable for most people.
But that’s ok. You don’t have to start with that much. Even putting £50 per month into a savings account dedicated to home maintenance will give you £600 per year to work with.
Create A Seasonal Maintenance Plan
Spring washing away those gutter leaves? Get the boiler serviced before your warranty runs out.
Leaves falling from nearby trees? Clear your drains.
Plan ahead and maintenance won’t pile up.
Breakdown your maintenance into seasonal jobs and you’ll never be too far behind on those tasks.
Get Multiple Quotes
Too many people think that the first quote they get for home maintenance is correct.
Always get AT LEAST 3 quotes from tradespeople.
You should also ask them what jobs are urgent versus those that can wait. Most professional won’t look at your home for free. But they will tell you what repairs NEED doing ASAP if you ask.
Learn How To DIY
Finally. A little DIY can go a long way when maintained properly.
Simple jobs like changing washer taps and filling cracks can save you a nice chunk of change.
That said. Don’t be afraid to admit when something is outside of your skillset.
Electrics and gas should always be left to qualified tradespeople.
When To Hire A Professional For Maintenance
That leads nicely onto the next point.
If you don’t know how to do a job. DON’T TRY TO DO IT YOURSELF.
There are plenty of maintenance jobs that NO homeowner should be doing.
Including…
- Gas work
- Electrical
- Damp proofing
- Structural problems
- Roofing work at height
Trustworthy professionals won’t disappear once they’ve been paid half the cost. And will guarantee their work.
Attempting repairs yourself can often void home insurance policies.
Speak to professionals about which maintenance jobs you should leave to them.
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Prioritising Maintenance
Finally..Don’t make these mistakes when prioritising home maintenance jobs.
Ignoring ‘Small’ Problems
It’s easy to think that little issues won’t cost much to fix.
That loose shower panel. The crack in the render. That latch on the back door that doesn’t quite close 100%.
Left unchecked, these minor problems will soon become major expenses.
Make a note of them during your regular maintenance checks and deal with them at the next opportunity.
Thinking Cheap Quotes Are Better
Who doesn’t love a good bargain?
But if something seems too cheap..
It probably is.
Get three quotes. Make sure they are both insured and qualified. Then go with the one you feel happiest with.
Taking risks with home maintenance will ALWAYS end up costing you more in the long run.
Skipping Servicing
Nowadays, boilers and heating systems need to be serviced every year to work effectively.
Some homeowners choose to skip a year or two here and there to save a bit of cash.
That broken down on the morning of your birthday…
Yeah, we’ve all been there.
Servicing might seem like an upfront cost. But it’s ALWAYS cheaper than calling out an emergency repair.
Trying To Do Everything All At Once
Ok you’ve decided to get on top of your home maintenance….
Don’t fall into the trap of trying to do everything at once.
You’ll end up pulling your hair out and never actually finishing the jobs.
Pick one or two jobs each month and get them done properly.
Wrapping It All Up
So there you have it.
A complete guide to prioritising home maintenance tasks when you are on a budget.
Remember homeowners…
- Allocate budget and time to immediate safety repairs
- Plan to do damage-preventing home maintenance jobs next.
- Leave tasks that don’t affect safety or could cause damage until a later date.
- Don’t forget to schedule in those lovely cosmetic jobs you’ve been putting off
- Build up a maintenance fund.
- Remember that cheapest isn’t always best. Get three quotes from trusted tradespeople.
- Most home maintenance jobs can be done yourself. But there will be times when you need to call in the professionals.
