When someone purchases a home, they're taking on much more responsibility than they do when they rent a home or apartment. They're responsible for upkeep and maintenance, as well as repairing or replacing the home's systems or appliances when they break down. There's no maintenance office to call when the air conditioner refuses to blow cool air or when the sink is backed up. In fact, most financial experts tell homeowners to budget at least 1% of their home's purchase price every year into repairs and replacements that crop up.
Five Common Home Repairs
There are some home repairs that are more common than others. Depending on the severity of the problem, the skill level of the homeowner, and tools at their disposal, some of these repairs can be done without calling a contractor.
Clogged Drains
Dyno, a drain cleaner, estimates that over 2 million drains are clogged every year, so dealing with unclogging a drain is something most homeowners will have to face at least once or twice in their lives. It happens often and no matter if it's in a sink or tub, it can cause issues.
If you're struggling with a clogged kitchen sink drain, you might find Landmark's How to Fix a Clogged Sink blog helpful.
Leaking Plumbing
A leaky faucet, toilet, or shower may not seem like a big deal, but the Environmental Protection Agency warns homeowners that 10% of the homes that have leaks waste 90 gallons of water a day. A shower that leaks just ten drops per minute wastes over 500 gallons of water a year. That's a lot of water… and a lot of money coming out of a homeowner's pocket to pay the water bill! This is a common problem that most homeowners face when dealing with home repairs.
Toilets
Speaking of leaks, did you know that your toilet is responsible for 30% of all water use in your home? One of the most common toilet problems is caused by the flapper on the inside of the tank. The rubber portion of the flapper that seals the toilet tank and prevents leakage in to the bowl below only lasts about ten years. That means every ten years or so, homeowners should expect to fix their toilet. Landmark's article Do It Yourself: Toilet Repairs can help homeowners easily fix small issues with their toilets.
Garbage disposal
Garbage disposals jam more often than you would expect. Of course, homeowners can prevent it from happening by paying special attention to what is put down the drain. Even the most careful of homeowners, though, will face a time or two when the sink's garbage disposal just doesn't function the way it should. You can unjam it with Landmark's article DIY: Fix a Jammed Garbage Disposal, but it may need to be completely replaced if it's reached the end of its lifespan.
Appliance Trouble
Every homeowner will face appliance trouble in their lifetimes. Some of these problems result from lack of maintenance, and it might just be the fridge's evaporative coils need cleaning or the dishwasher's filter needs a good scrub. If these maintenance tips don't solve the problem, however, it may mean that you have to purchase an entirely new unit and have it installed.
Five Most Expensive Home Repairs
While some of these home repairs don't cost as much money, unfortunately there are some home repairs that can really break the bank if you're unprepared for the expense.
Air Conditioner Issues
With just a simple air conditioning repair coming in at an average of $163-$520, air conditioner problems are one of the costliest issues a homeowner can face. If the entire air conditioning unit has to be replaced, it can cost upwards of $4,000!
Furnace Issues
Along the same wavelength, if a home's furnace goes out, this can truly break the bank for a homeowner. At the least, a homeowner will be paying an average of $132-$454 to repair the problem, or even over $6,000 to replace it entirely.
Roof Repairs
Roofs are extremely susceptible to weather damage, being the first line of defense for your home against wind, rain, snow, and even extremely hot temperatures. Your shingles on your home will wear out, and getting a new roof can cost you as much as $12,000! This is by far the most expensive repair in your home.
Water Heater Repair
A water heater only lasts about ten years, which is a relatively short amount of time. When this fails, it can cost up to $1,300 to replace! When it stops working, it's immediately noticeable - not just because of the cold showers, but because many of a home's appliances rely on warm water to work correctly and will stop working efficiently.
Electrical Wiring Problems
Finally, your electrical wiring in your home doesn't normally have many problems. In fact, it's one of the longest lasting parts of a home. However, when it breaks down or needs repairs, it is costly. It can cost up to $15,000 for rewiring in a home.
Some of these repairs and replacements are relatively easy to DIY, but when larger systems and appliances break down, costs add up quickly. The average homeowner doesn't have the tools or know-how to replace Freon in their HVAC system or to install a new water heater. So how can you, a homeowner, avoid some of these high costs of home repairs? The answer is by purchasing a home warranty.
Home Warranties and Home Repairs
Having a home warranty can help homeowners take charge of these home repairs, from the common to the expensive! Everything listed above are covered in one of the many plans that Landmark Home Warranty offers homeowners. A home warranty provides two great benefits for new and old homeowners alike: reduced cost of repairs and replacements and reduced stress in finding and contacting an expert.
Home Warranty Cost
A home warranty plan from Landmark only costs between $300-$600 a year, depending on the plan and coverage level. That can be broken down into monthly payments as well, so homeowners can have continuous coverage on their home's systems and appliances. When a homeowner does request service on their home for a failed system or appliance, they will pay a service call fee, which is between $60-$100, depending on the homeowners' plan and location. These two costs are usually all a homeowner has to pay to have a covered system or appliance repaired or replaced! Although there may be small extra costs because of items that are not covered under the home warranty plan, most repairs and replacements are heavily discounted from what a homeowner would pay at-cost with a contractor.
These discounts are possible because Landmark partners with different contractors in an area, offering them steady work from the home warranty's customer base in exchange for reduced pricing of repairs and replacements. Landmark also works with the contractor to get parts at better pricing and passes those savings onto the homeowner.
Home Warranty Contractor Network
"Time is money," as they say, and a home warranty helps homeowners save both when dealing with repairs. When a homeowner has to repair or replace a system or appliance in their home without a home warranty, they'll often call numerous contractors, trying to find an expert and get bids for the project. With a home warranty, a homeowner doesn't have to worry about that. They just call Landmark, and Landmark takes care of the entire process of finding the best contractor for the problem. There are no competing bids because as long as the system or appliance's repair is covered, the most a homeowner will have to pay is the flat rate of their service call fee.
If you are interested in taking charge of your home repairs with a home warranty, look no further than Landmark Home Warranty. Landmark offers comprehensive home warranty coverage for current homeowners as well as individuals who are purchasing new homes. These plans range in cost and coverage and can be personalized to fit the house! Compare Landmark's plans and pricing and order today.