Home › Learn From The Pros › Consider These When Budgeting for Routine Home Maintenance Consider These When Budgeting for Routine Home Maintenance May 27, 2019 Routine maintenance is essential in making sure everything runs smoothly in your home. It also ensures your house can withstand any weather condition. The age and condition of your property can affect its maintenance costs. In today’s post, your trusted gutter installation expert, Advantage Seamless Gutters, discusses factors to consider when planning a budget for routine home maintenance. Factors Affecting Your Home Maintenance Costs Age – Newly built homes require less maintenance compared to homes that were built 10 to 20 years ago. A house that’s at least 20 to 30 years old most-likely needs to have its major exterior parts replaced. Condition – A well-maintained home can look new indefinitely. Neglected and unmaintained homes have more repair and maintenance needs. Gutters that aren’t maintained put a house at risk of water damage and a weakened foundation. Consider investing in seamless gutters or gutter guards for a system that’s easy to care for and clean. Location – Homes located in areas that create environmental stresses would need more careful maintenance. For example, if you’re living at the foot of a hill or in a flood plain, it will affect how much maintenance and care your house needs. Weather – Your home is more prone to damage if you’re living in an area that experiences extreme cold and heavy snowfall. This goes the same applies to places subjected to high winds, heavy rainstorms and other harsh weather conditions. How to Save Up For Your Annual Maintenance The 1% Rule – According to this rule, you should save one percent of your home’s purchase price to cover for the yearly maintenance. For instance, your home costs $400,000, then you should set aside $4000 for maintenance and repairs. The Square Foot Rule – This suggests setting aside $1 per square foot per year for maintenance and repair budget. If your home is 3,000 square feet, it means you have to budget $3000 for annual maintenance. Still, you should consider the local market prices for labor and materials as these can vary from one area to another. Only trust your home maintenance needs to reputable contractors. At Advantage Seamless Gutters, we are your leading provider of gutter cleaning services. We also offer high-quality installation of half round gutters and Valor Gutter Guard. Call us at 320-460-1338 or complete our online form for a free estimate. We work with homeowners in Alexandria, MN.