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AARP Home » Money » Living on a Budget »11 Ways to Avoid Costl...

11 Ways to Avoid Costly Home Repairs

Maintain your house now, so you can avoid big problems later on

by: Sid Kirchheimer, from: AARP

En español | Your house talks to you — and what is it saying? It's giving you early warning signs of potential trouble at its most vulnerable spots, and by paying attention you can prevent costly repairs down the road.

Basement

Problems: Water damage, mold, foundation damage.

Trouble signs: Flaking or peeling paint on walls, bowed walls, moisture or odor.

What to do: Ensure that the ground around your foundation slopes downward away from the house at least one inch per six feet. Regularly clean downspouts and make sure they direct water at least 10 feet from foundation. Ensure sump pumps operate.

What it may cost: A weekend adding well-compacted earth around the foundation. It will cost about $50 to extend downspouts for a typical house. A battery-powered backup for sump pumps (during power loss) costs $150 to $400.

What it saves: Thousands of dollars in water damage. Foundation repairs cost $10,000 or more.

— Photo by Getty Images

1 of 13

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