If you live in the same house long enough you will know the joys of having a new roof put on, and painting or re-siding the exterior. You will get to buy a water heater, install it, and replace the furnace and central AC. Toilets don’t last forever and neither do faucets.
Washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves, and refrigerators all need to be replaced at some point. The countertops wear out and when we replace them we also need a new sink and faucet. Windows last longer than most house parts and can be repaired, but sometimes they wear out or more commonly rot and you need new ones.
Flooring doesn’t last forever. Hardwood floors will eventually need refinishing, carpeting needs to be replaced and sometimes we tile a floor for the heck of it.
Fences don’t last forever neither do exterior stairs be they wood or concrete.
Pipes have been known to freeze and sometimes we forget to turn off the outdoor water spigots before winter and they have to be replaced in the spring.
I am sure I missed a few things, (like storm doors and exterior doors) but I have personally had every repair mentioned in this article. Next spring I’ll look into some new fencing. We also need new cellar doors and some masonry work and repairs to the steps in the rear entryway.
It would also be nice to give the upstairs bathroom a makeover.
Expensive repairs come at the worst possible time so plan on it if you are a homeowner. If you own or plan on buying an old house make sure to have a few thousand dollars reserved for home repairs each year.
Don’t be surprised if you bought a house last year and need to spend money on maintenance or repairs this year.
Pro tip: Keep track of repairs, save receipts and write the installation date on major appliances, furnaces, boilers, and hot water heaters.