Survey reveals that today’s homeowners have low home maintenance IQ

According to a recent survey of homeowners by Esurance, less than 40% of homeowners regularly maintain their homes to the extent that it should be. As millennials finish college, start their careers, and purchase their first home, this trend could continue to move in that direction. It’s important to proactively take care of the problems that arise in a home but millennials, it seems, haven’t had the importance of home maintenance stressed upon them as much as previous generations did. Another mistake they often make is taking home maintenance into their own hands when they shouldn’t.

The downside to DIY

According to the same Esurance survey, 45% of homeowners believe they’re better suited for the job of maintaining their homes than professionals. But 52% of those who tackle DIY projects end up needing to hire a professional to fix their mistakes. There are certainly situations where doing it yourself is a viable solution. But homeowners, and millennials in particular need to learn when to turn things over to the pros.

Some maintenance tips

Here are some maintenance tips for first-time homeowners:

 

 

 

Have an emergency fund. When you own a home, it’s just a matter of time until something breaks or goes wrong. Some of these emergencies can be quite costly. Homeowners should make it a priority to set aside some money for such emergencies. The more the better.

Leave maintenance tasks that require specialized training and a license to the professionals. This includes plumbing, electrical, and HVAC work. Not only can mistakes with this kind of maintenance work cause severe damage to your home but it could result in personal injury or death as well.

Don’t be afraid to tackle projects that don’t fall under the criteria in the previous tip. You can save a lot of money by knowing which projects you can do yourself with minimal risk. YouTube can be an invaluable source as you learn to do certain maintenance tasks yourself.

Stay on top of upkeep. Get in the habit of regularly cleaning, inspecting, and checking home maintenance systems to make sure everything’s running as it should.

Review your insurance policy annually. It’s a good idea to look over your insurance policy once a year to make sure you’re aware of what it covers and what it doesn’t.

Source: Consumer Affairs"

 

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