Homeownership comes with its share of rewards—and responsibilities. Among the biggest is home maintenance. While it’s exciting to paint the walls, pick new furniture, or landscape the yard, there’s another side of homeownership that’s easy to overlook: maintenance costs.
Ignoring these costs can catch you off guard and strain your budget. But when you plan ahead and include home maintenance in your budget, you’re in a better position to handle whatever comes your way. Let’s look at what home maintenance actually costs, why it’s essential to budget for it, and how you can plan ahead without stressing out.
What are home maintenance costs?
Home maintenance costs are the expenses that come from keeping your home in good, working condition. These aren’t upgrades or renovations—they’re the routine tasks and repairs needed to make sure everything functions properly and safely.
Some of the more common home maintenance task include:
- HVAC filter replacements
- Roof inspections and repairs
- Gutter cleaning
- Pest control
- Lawn care
- Plumbing work
- Appliance servicing
- Seasonal weatherproofing
These may not seem like big-ticket items on their own, but costs might really jump when multiple things need attention at once.
How much should you budget for home maintenance?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here are a couple rules of thumb to help you estimate:
1% rule
Plan to spend 1% of your home’s purchase price each year on maintenance. So, if your home cost $250,000, you’d budget $2,500 annually—or about $208 a month—for upkeep.
Square footage rule
Budget $1 per square foot per year for maintenance. If your home is 2,000 square feet, aim to save $2,000 per year for routine care.
Why it’s important to budget for home maintenance
If you’re like most homeowners, you probably budget for your mortgage, insurance, utilities, and maybe even your property taxes. But maintenance often gets left out—and that can leave you scrambling when something breaks.
By building these costs into your monthly or annual home budget, you:
- Reduce financial stress by being prepared for the unexpected
- Extend the life of your home and appliances
- Avoid costlier emergency repairs down the line
- Improve your home’s value over time
When you anticipate maintenance, you’re not reacting—you’re proactively managing your investment. That’s a smart money move that helps you feel in control.
Systems and age factors
Older homes may need more frequent repairs. Similarly, if your HVAC, water heater, or roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, or if your home has unique features (like a pool or septic system) it’s wise to budget extra.
Planning ahead: a seasonal home maintenance checklist
Breaking down maintenance by season makes it easier to stay on top of your home’s needs. Think about where you live and how seasons can impact your home. Homes around a lot of trees could mean extra gutter cleaning and monitoring plumbing for roots. If you live near an ocean, the salt air can cause paint to peel early and wood to split. Homes in areas that get really cold in the winter can mean cracking concrete and frozen pipes.
Not every task will apply to every home, but having a checklist gives you a good guide to know what to look at each season. By staying proactive, you’ll help minimize larger—and more expensive—problems in the future.
Building a home maintenance fund
Even if you know what to expect, it can still be hard to cover sudden costs. That’s why creating a home maintenance fund can be so helpful. Think of it as an emergency fund—but specifically for your house.
Here’s how to start:
- Set a savings goal. Use the 1% or square footage rule to calculate an annual target.
- Automate contributions. Set up a monthly transfer to a high-yield savings account.
- Track expenses. Use an app or notebook to keep tabs on how much you spend on maintenance each year.
- Reassess annually. Your home’s needs will change over time. Adjust your goal as needed.
Having dedicated savings for maintenance gives your budget more breathing room—and your future self will thank you.
When home maintenance turns into a major repair
Sometimes maintenance reveals a bigger issue—like a leaking roof or a failing water heater. These repairs can be costly and aren’t always something you can put off. If you find yourself in a pinch and need to cover an expense that exceeds your savings, a home improvement loan may be the best option. Look for loans that have low, fixed rates. Be sure to shop around and only borrow what you can comfortably repay.
Tips for keeping costs manageable
Here are a few extra ways to save money while staying on top of home upkeep:
- Do it yourself. Learn basic maintenance tasks like replacing air filters, cleaning gutters, or caulking windows.
- Bundle services. Some pros offer seasonal packages for things like HVAC or lawn care at a discounted rate.
- Schedule routine inspections. Catching issues early often costs less than waiting until they turn into emergencies.
- Shop around. Get multiple estimates for repairs or service calls.
- Keep records. Document your repairs and maintenance—this can be helpful for warranty claims, taxes, or resale value.
Protect your investment
Owning a home is one of life’s most meaningful accomplishments—and one of its biggest responsibilities. By planning for maintenance costs and including them in your home budget, you gain confidence, avoid unnecessary stress, and keep your home in great shape for years to come.
With a little planning, a dash of know-how, and the right tools, you’ll be better equipped to handle homeownership’s ups and downs—and stay in control of your financial future.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide financial, tax or legal advice. You should consult a professional for specific advice. Best Egg is not responsible for the information contained in third-party sites cited or hyperlinked in this article. Best Egg is not responsible for, and does not provide or endorse third party products, services or other third-party content.
