MORE SH*T IS BREAKING! Or, how much do you spend on maintenance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where in the OP did she mention maintenance contracts? Oh, wait, she didn't. You just posted to be a jerk.

Different poster, but you don't get bi-annual HVAC inspections just for the heck of it. Sounds like a service contract to most ppl with a clue.

[Anonymous]

wait is 1% of 800k 8k? bc no way do we spend 8k a year on repairs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After an already expensive year (new attic insulation, two emergency plumbing issues, two emergency HVAC issues, and one emergency electrical issue), we have yet another electrical issue! ARGH.

We do all the scheduled maintenance stuff (HVAC biennial inspections, take care of our systems). But the maintenance is never-ending. I know this is within the range of normal, but seriously, what should we be paying on an average year (not replacing the roof, say)? We have enough in our savings, but it's annoying to see these big chunks of money come out on the regular.

(Also, I am somewhat handy but don't usually do electrical, HVAC, or plumbing. DH is completely hopeless at handiwork)

It sounds like a typical house to me OP. What were your "emergency" plumbing and electrical issues? I have a relative with a home built less than 10 yrs ago, and the HVAC system has acted up twice, fridge a couple times, microwave's died twice now (GE profile garbage). HVAC systems are made like garbage these days like most appliances.

New attic insulation is a home improvement more than anything. A person with two left feet can add attic insulation and a lot of people don't charge that much to do it even if you aren't DIY capable. Sign up for a class given by the county on electrical and plumbing household stuff. Every homeowner should be able to do very basic stuff, or you will end up overpaying for simple stuff that you ought to do yourself (like fixing a running toilet/etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:checkbook did a study that maintenance contracts are worthless and in fact are ways for companies to suggest new work.

What were the emergencies? I am thinking maybe the emergenancies were inflated by your service companies and they charged a lot. I would be you were over charged on your attic insulation and all work, the contractors can smell people who are clueless from a a mile away and rip them off.

Where in the OP did she mention maintenance contracts? Oh, wait, she didn't. You just posted to be a jerk.

LOL you don't read good do yah?

[Anonymous]

I'd like to know wtf kind of animal 'tears up your roof'. Bear? Yeti?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:wait is 1% of 800k 8k? bc no way do we spend 8k a year on repairs.

This is a good rule of thumb for most people, and is over the life of the house. Sure it might be high for some people, but not a bad rule of thumb. For example, your roof WILL need to be replaced, as will the HVAC system, water heater, etc. at some point. Those big one time charges spread over many years may come to ~1%/yr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wait is 1% of 800k 8k? bc no way do we spend 8k a year on repairs.

This is a good rule of thumb for most people, and is over the life of the house. Sure it might be high for some people, but not a bad rule of thumb. For example, your roof WILL need to be replaced, as will the HVAC system, water heater, etc. at some point. Those big one time charges spread over many years may come to ~1%/yr.

Roof it like 6k and happens every 25 - 35 years, HVAC is about 6K every 12-15 years, water heater is 1K every 12-15 years etc... WTF are you people paying. Are you all selecting the over priced DC area contractors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where in the OP did she mention maintenance contracts? Oh, wait, she didn't. You just posted to be a jerk.

Different poster, but you don't get bi-annual HVAC inspections just for the heck of it. Sounds like a service contract to most ppl with a clue.

Hey there. OP here. It's not a service contract. I thought everyone had their furnace inspected on a regular basis for safety. My parents certainly always have. Issues like a CO buildup or refrigerant leak would either be dangerous or really expensive if not caught early on.

I have my furnace guy do it and I trust him. Plus, it's like $85, so that's not exactly breaking the bank. The repairs are the thing that can get expensive, but as a helpful PP pointed out, the age of the systems really is a better predictor than the age of the house. Thank you for that, PP from earlier page, you are right. The furnace is about 12 years old, so I would guess we should indeed be budgeting for more major repairs/eventual replacement in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wait is 1% of 800k 8k? bc no way do we spend 8k a year on repairs.

This is a good rule of thumb for most people, and is over the life of the house. Sure it might be high for some people, but not a bad rule of thumb. For example, your roof WILL need to be replaced, as will the HVAC system, water heater, etc. at some point. Those big one time charges spread over many years may come to ~1%/yr.

Please don't use the phrase "rule of thumb." It's offensive and has its roots in domestic abuse (an expression from the time when it was OK for a man to beat his wife with a stick so long as it wasn't thicker than his thumb.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wait is 1% of 800k 8k? bc no way do we spend 8k a year on repairs.

This is a good rule of thumb for most people, and is over the life of the house. Sure it might be high for some people, but not a bad rule of thumb. For example, your roof WILL need to be replaced, as will the HVAC system, water heater, etc. at some point. Those big one time charges spread over many years may come to ~1%/yr.

Please don't use the phrase "rule of thumb." It's offensive and has its roots in domestic abuse (an expression from the time when it was OK for a man to beat his wife with a stick so long as it wasn't thicker than his thumb.)

Good Lord! Ar you also the poster who won't let her daughter shave her legs until you've lectured her that it is buying into the patriarchal paradigm?

[Anonymous]

I don't think that the 1% rule applies in this area- most homes in this area that are 500k would be 250k almost anywhere else in the country.

[Anonymous]

I a house built in 1960 -- your typical DC 'burbs house. I figure on spending about $2k a year on basic maintenance. That's to keep what's here working and safe. Not upgrading or improving. Just maintaining.
Like you said, something is almost always happening. A pipe (or 3) in the garage froze during the winter, a tree partially fell and needed to be cut down and removed. HVAC cleaning/inspection. A toilet kept clogging and ultimately needed replacing.
This year I also needed to replace the entire back porch/deck because the wood was rotting away. That has been a big expense but I hope it won't need to be touched for another 15 years.
I also budget $1k for outside maintenance.

[Anonymous]

I have a house built in 1960 -- your typical DC 'burbs house. I figure on spending about $2k a year on basic maintenance. That's to keep what's here working and safe. Not upgrading or improving. Just maintaining.
Like you said, something is almost always happening. A pipe (or 3) in the garage froze during the winter, a tree partially fell and needed to be cut down and removed. HVAC cleaning/inspection. A toilet kept clogging and ultimately needed replacing.
This year I also needed to replace the entire back porch/deck because the wood was rotting away. That has been a big expense but I hope it won't need to be touched for another 15 years.
I also budget $1k for outside maintenance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wait is 1% of 800k 8k? bc no way do we spend 8k a year on repairs.

This is a good rule of thumb for most people, and is over the life of the house. Sure it might be high for some people, but not a bad rule of thumb. For example, your roof WILL need to be replaced, as will the HVAC system, water heater, etc. at some point. Those big one time charges spread over many years may come to ~1%/yr.

Please don't use the phrase "rule of thumb." It's offensive and has its roots in domestic abuse (an expression from the time when it was OK for a man to beat his wife with a stick so long as it wasn't thicker than his thumb.)

Good Lord! Ar you also the poster who won't let her daughter shave her legs until you've lectured her that it is buying into the patriarchal paradigm?

No, but you sound like you might be a sexist pig.