Frugal Living

Repairing Your Home in 2022 While on a Tight Budget

With soaring inflation, skyrocketing fuel prices, and material shortages, entering into home repairs in 2022 is not for the feint of heart. You have to dig deep into your wallet even for the simplest of home projects.

Maybe you’ve decided to let some repairs go until prices come back down. But then there are projects like replacing a boiler or fixing your damaged chimney, that simply can’t wait.

Says It’s the Brick Guys, professional chimney repair in Michigan, even in today’s economically challenging times, you can still get affordable, long-lasting chimney repair. By using the right materials and installation techniques, high quality chimney repair can last for years, and even decades.

The same can be said of a proper boiler installation. With the right plumbing contractor and the right materials, a boiler can last for twenty years or more with minimal maintenance.

But what about those projects that aren’t all that necessary, but that you just can’t ignore? How do you afford them when prices for everything from bacon to a gallon of gas are through the roof?

According to new article, one of the most critical things you can do for yourself as a property owner is the learn how to do simple repairs on your own. Naturally, the big jobs must be handled by a professional contractor, but if you were to rely on them for every single simple home maintenance project, you would go broke.   

First-Time Home Buyers

Many first-time homebuyers end up “in over their heads” when move into their new house. They give the home a long inspection and see in their minds, all the improvements they’d like to make in it. This is where the problems start.   

Prior to purchasing your first home, you need to make sure the home is professionally inspected before you seal the deal. Too many first-timers make the big mistake of believing that if the bank appraiser approves the home loan than the house must be in great shape.

But appraisers and inspectors have two separate and different jobs. While the appraiser works for the bank and makes certain the home has the value the bank requires to approve a loan, the inspector works for you. They will check on all the important home components and systems, from the foundation to the roof, to make certain everything is in “working order.”

For instance, if the home interior needs painting, in 2022 that’s a job the frugal you should handle on your own. But if the foundation is cracked and leaking, you need to hire a professional mason to repair it.

Easy Home Repairs for an Expensive 2022

These are just a few of the home repair projects you can DIY (Do It Yourself).

Changing out bad toilet parts, fixing a leaky faucet, replacing an old showerhead that’s calcified, fixing a leaky pipe, replacing a light switch and plate, installing a new stove or refrigerator, installing a new doorbell, and replacing some wood flooring, are just a few examples of easy DIY projects.  

Other DIY projects include, but aren’t limited to exterior home painting, pressure washing the sidewalks and deck, gutter cleaning and repair, fixing/replacing water damaged sheetrock, driveway sealing, landscaping, tree trimming, replacing handrails, plus carpet cleaning or replacement.  

The experts say that there are literally hundreds of tasks you can learn to do on your own in 2022 so that you don’t have to pay hundreds or even thousands out of pocket for a professional contractor.

It’s said to be fear that keeps most homeowners from undertaking simple home projects and repairs on their own. But today, there are many educational resources right on your smartphone such as YouTube.

Many short videos can walk you through just about any home project and/or repair that you can imagine. All it takes is a little courage on your part to engage in the repairs on your own. Some of this courage can be fueled by budget savings or even taking a personal, hands-on pride in your home. Plus, working on your home can be fun and satisfying.

All you need are the right tools and the right materials to get the job done the right way. And take your time with the home repairs. You’re not engaging in a race. Take it slowly, step by step, and before you know it, your entire home will have a fresh interior paint job, or a newly stained back deck. Easy peasy, and cheap too.

One thought on “Repairing Your Home in 2022 While on a Tight Budget

  1. Good suggestions! By the way, you can cheaply improve the cooling/heating capabilities of your home without an entirely new HVAC system by installing a ceiling fan. The improved airflow reduces the energy losses associated with air conditioners. That hot or cold air gets circulated around instead of getting trapped somewhere in a corner.

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