What Happens When You Put Off Home Maintenance?

There are plenty of things around a house that can wait.

A room that needs paint. Flooring you eventually want to replace. A dated light fixture. Those are usually matters of preference.

But there’s another category of home maintenance that may not seem urgent today but can become much more expensive when it’s left alone.

I was recently reminded of that through a real estate transaction.

When a Small Issue Becomes a Bigger One

About three years ago, an inspection on a home identified microbial growth in the crawlspace.

In West Tennessee, where humidity and moisture are common concerns, crawlspace issues can sometimes get dismissed with some version of, “That’s just how crawlspaces are around here.”

Three years later, that same property was inspected again as part of a new sale.

The inspector’s photographs immediately showed that the condition had become much more significant. Then the first repair estimate came back at more than $10,000.

At that point, this was no longer simply a matter of treating microbial growth. Significant deterioration of wood components in the crawlspace had also been discovered.

And the financial impact wasn’t the only problem.

Deferred Maintenance Can Affect Your Home When You Sell

When you’re living in a home, it can be easy to postpone something that isn’t affecting your everyday life.

But eventually that deferred maintenance can show up again.

Sometimes it’s when the roof begins leaking.

Sometimes it’s when an HVAC system stops working.

And sometimes it’s during a buyer’s home inspection.

At that point, the homeowner may be dealing with the repair itself while also trying to keep a real estate transaction together.

A significant inspection finding can cause a buyer to ask for repairs or renegotiate the purchase. In some situations, depending on the contract and circumstances, the buyer may decide not to move forward at all.

Even after the immediate transaction ends, a known condition may still need to be addressed before the home can be successfully marketed to another buyer.

That is why deferred maintenance can ultimately cost a homeowner more than the repair bill itself.

Common Doesn’t Mean Harmless

This is especially important with problems we tend to normalize.

Moisture in a crawlspace is a good example in our part of Tennessee. Our climate is humid, and that doesn’t mean every crawlspace condition is a major problem.

But it also doesn’t mean every condition should be ignored.

The same principle applies throughout your home.

A small roof leak, deteriorating caulk, plumbing drip, drainage issue, damaged siding, pest activity or unusual HVAC behavior may not require an emergency response. But it deserves enough attention to understand what is happening.

The question isn’t simply:

“Do I have to fix this today?”

A better question may be:

“What happens if I don’t?”

Use Your Home Inspection After Closing

One of the things I encourage buyers to remember is that their inspection report doesn’t stop being useful when they purchase the house.

Keep it.

Your report can become a starting point for a home-maintenance plan.

There may be items you decide to address immediately, others you plan for over the next year and some you simply monitor.

The important part is knowing which is which.

If your inspector recommends further evaluation by a qualified professional, consider getting that additional information even if you aren’t planning to make the repair immediately. Knowing the potential consequences can help you make a much better decision about when an item needs attention.

Protecting the Investment You Already Own

We talk a lot in real estate about choosing the right home and negotiating the right purchase.

But protecting that investment after closing matters too.

Homeownership doesn’t mean fixing every imperfection the minute you discover it. It does mean paying attention when your home is telling you something.

Because sometimes the issue that seems easy to live with today becomes the issue you wish you had handled three years ago.

Common doesn’t necessarily mean harmless.

If you’re buying or selling a home in West Tennessee and have questions about how property condition can affect a real estate transaction, I’m always happy to talk through it with you.

Jennifer Knolton, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Southern Realty
Real Estate, handled with care.