How to Avoid Disasters in the House

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Your home is an expensive investment, and like any investment, you need to nurture it. Next to a lifetime of food purchases, your home is the most expensive purchase you will make. But as expensive as a good home is, it isn’t beyond disaster; acts of God, wear and tear, and inadequate maintenance can cause various problems over the lifetime of a structure.

Fortunately, with common sense, forward planning, and a little time, most issues can be avoided or at least prepared for. Severe structural damage from a natural disaster notwithstanding, planning and preparation are guaranteed to minimize stress and the impact of anything that should befall your home.

Maintain Essential Appliances

All appliances will eventually break down. A broken essential appliance can cause havoc, misery, and significant inconvenience in a home. However, you can extend the lifetime of any device by simply maintaining it properly. For example, descaling tablets should be used in a washing machine while heating systems should be adequately insulated.

Additionally, in case you should be subject to an appliance breakdown, consider insurance. Most manufacturers offer their own insurance plans by monthly payments. For example, a boiler/water system provider might provide accidental damage cover, pump repair, and free inspection as part of the service. Any new parts and callouts are also covered by insurance plans. An additional monthly fee might be off-putting, but it’s better than a large replacement bill.

Inspect Important Infrastructure

Your home itself also requires vital maintenance. A home with good bones, as they say, can stand for a long time, but it is still subject to the stresses of internal and external factors. Some common issues include termites, mold, and foundation issues. Additionally, older homes may begin to suffer electrical wiring, plumbing, and masonry degradation.

You can inspect your home yourself for apparent signs of damage. Still, you may need to call a professional inspector for more problematic and hidden dangers. For example, electric issues will cause short circuits. Plumbing problems are noticeable by leaks, creaks, and sputters, while masonry problems show visible cracks and brick damage. You also should not attempt to fix anything yourself as this could be dangerous and cause further damage. 

Save for Emergency Situations

A disaster in the home can happen at any time, usually when you least expect it. Home repairs of any kind are expensive, and not having the funds to pay for them means you will put everyone’s safety at risk. Unfortunately, a United States survey by Bankrate found that almost 40% of Americans don’t have enough money to cover an actual emergency. The recommended minimum of which is $1,000.

Times are hard for most these days. But saving doesn’t need to be complicated. You might need to make a few cuts to things you don’t actually need, but what’s a few dollars compared to the safety of your family? Also, if you don’t save for emergency situations, you may be forced to get a loan that will probably cost more than you could have saved. $100 per month isn’t too tricky when considering the average cost of cigarettes is $188. Maybe quit smoking for a while. It’s better for you and everyone around you. 

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