Maintenance problems? Help your clients avoid having to call a pro

Nearly nine in ten homeowners said they are confident in performing the maintenance on their homes.

Actually, 45 percent of all homeowners, including 59 percent of millennials, said they are better than a pro would be, according to a recent survey from Esurance. However, that may not be the case. According to the survey, less than 40 percent have the knowledge or the time to regularly maintain their homes.

Philadelphia Realtor® Bill Festa said the biggest issue he sees is painting. “I am amazed at how many people just don’t think it’s important because ‘most buyers will want to come in and change the colors anyway,'” he said.  He added: “I’m not sure if you would consider this maintenance, but also clutter. I try to insist that the sellers get all clutter either out of the home or confined to a basement or garage. It definitely has a negative  impression on the prospective buyers condition of the home, both in the pictures as well as the showings.”

Meanwhile, the survey found eight in 10 have no maintenance plan for their attic, while 74 percent have no maintenance plan for the outside foundation. Sixty-nine percent have no plan for their property lot, while two-thirds have no plan for their exterior home surfaces. Sixty-four percent have no plans for their windows or doors, and 63 percent have no maintenance plan for their roof.

And the statistics show that, 67 percent have tried to do a major home project without a pro, and more than half (52 percent) have had to hire a pro to fix something they tried to do themselves.

“Before you pick up a hammer and start swinging, it is a good idea to assess whether this is a project you can or should undertake. Maybe you should discuss the scope of work with a licensed contractor to see if a good outcome can be expected with you taking on the role of carpenter, electrician, and/or plumber.  What could possibly go wrong? But even before you decide who will be doing the work, it is absolutely imperative that you determine if a permit will be needed for what you plan to do,” said PAR First Vice President Todd Umbenhauer. “The only way one can be sure if a permit is needed is by contacting the code enforcement officer for the municipality in which you live.  Some municipalities require a permit for something as simple as installing a replacement window in the same opening in which an existing window is located.”

However, there are some preventive measures homeowners can take to possibly avoid hiring a pro. Esurance suggests that monthly, residents should clean vents, dryer filters, the septic tank and the furnace, inspect fire extinguishers and smoke detector batteries and check leaky faucets and running toilets. Seasonally, clean gutters and downspouts, inspect the  chimney, fireplace and heating and air systems, and check interior caulking, and for tree branches, cracks and gaps. Annually, clean washer house connections and HVAC system coils, inspect the roof for leaks, mold and water damage, and check the foundation for cracks and exterior damage.

PAR Treasuer Bill McFalls agrees with these tips. He said the best pieces of advice he can give are: “basic caulking around windows and doors to prevent mold-related issues, especially with stucco, gutter cleaning to prevent overflowing gutters during storms and to prevent flooded basements and annual service of HVAC systems to lengthen the life of the system.”

PAR President-Elect Kathy McQuilkin chimed in: “Check the entire exterior foundation perimeter for soil levels. The first few feet of ground should drain away from the foundation to keep water from standing against the foundation walls.”