Whether we like it or not, there are times when our home might need large repairs, like replacing or fixing the roof, remodeling the basement, or even making an additional bedroom in the attic. However you put it, your house and your family need these repairs and they don’t come cheap at all.
If you know you already have issues with the roof, for instance, or replace the existing roof with a newer and better one, don’t wait until the cold season catches you uncovered. The roof is a very important part and the house may suffer from other damages if the roof gets too deteriorated and allows water to infiltrate. It is true that your budget may not be ready at the moment for roof replacement, but there are ways to budget so you can afford this operation before the cold season arrives. Just take a look at the following tips and start creating a budget that will allow you to enjoy a better roof.
Set your priorities straight
When we consider home repairs or remodeling, we tend to make a list that is way too big for our budget. While it is nothing wrong about wanting to have a perfect and beautiful house, you need to have in mind that your budget should cover first the repairs that need immediate attention, because if you don’t get these done, you may face even more damages in the future. For example, a roof leak will allow water to infiltrate into your attic and from there to your house’s ceiling, walls, and so on. Even if the leak is small, water is very dangerous when it infiltrates in your home, producing wall cracking, paint chipping, wood deformation, mold, and, in the worst cases, may damage the stability of the building. So, create a list of priorities and put down home repairs in the order of their severity, to make sure that your budget covers the severer ones first.
Don’t use credit cards, and pay cash for everything
While it may be tempting to use credit cards now and then, especially when buying materials for the repair processes, don’t go into debt. Paying cash will make you think twice before making a purchase, buying only those things you need and being pickier about it, plus you will pay much more attention to the price, looking at the most accessible prices for your budget. If you know your house needs some major repairs, you will have to start creating a savings account for it and starting directing money into it. Cut down any unnecessary costs and put the new found money into this account, so you will have the cash you need for the repairs. After all, you won’t repair your house all year round, so you can afford cutting down some things that are not necessarily needed and you can live without to make sure that you have a proper budget to make your home safe and cozy.
Stay away from the things that would be “nice” to do
When we dream about the ideal house, there are many things that would be “nice” to do, like brand new appliances, a new sink in the bathroom, or new cabinets for the kitchen. But, when the roof is leaking and not offering the safety and comfort you need, threatening to create even more problems, you can afford spending money on “nice” things. You need to spend money on things that are “necessary”. So each time you are tempted to touch your budget for something that you see as “nice”, do have in mind that a small expense now can cost you later on, especially if you don’t get that roof fixed.
Take one step at a time
Large home repairs involve a lot of things and expenses that are hard to foresee in the initial stage. So, instead of unrolling too many operations at once and risk spending your budget way too soon, leaving some or all your processes undone, it is best to tackle one matter at a time. For example, if you need a roof replacement or fixing, leave the garage on the side until you’re done with the roof, to see what will be left out of your budget. Meanwhile, you can continue saving money into the account you created for home repairs so that it will be easier to get to the next step. You don’t have sufficient money to repair the garage once the roof is done? Don’t panic and continue saving money for this objective as well. You may want to see everything done at once, but that’s a very difficult task when having a limited budget.
Do things yourself when you can and leave the experts to handle it where you can’t or don’t know
There are many things you can do on your own when it comes to making your home more presentable and repairing the small defects it may have, which will save you a lot of money. You could paint the walls or hand wallpaper because it is not something too difficult. You can even install laminate and hardwood floors, and, if you are ambition, you can even learn to set tiles if you watch the numerous tutorials you can find online. You will save a lot of money on labor and will be able to save more if you buy materials on discount or clearance.
But, when it comes to large operations, like the roof, always call in the experts, so you can enjoy a guarantee for the entire work done. Sometimes it is very difficult to spot roof damages, such as the ones created by a storm, so an inspection performed by experienced professionals will help you make the best choice in your case. Roof replacement is a costly operation for most homeowners, a team of reliable experts being more than needed to point out the reasons for replacing the roof or discovering and repairing the roof leak that caused you so much trouble.
Written by Natalie Bracco for Working Mother and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.
