New Home Repair Troubleshooting

Your new home has been inspected and the report shows a few minor repairs are needed. Congratulations: your home is almost perfect! On top of the nearly repair-free perfection, the seller has included a home warranty. But don't start the low-maintenance home celebration yet. Some of the minor repairs many new homes need may cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to fix. (To find out about what you need to know about home inspections, read Do You Need A Home Inspection?) Here we look at some of the most common and costly repairs and upkeep items that new homes need to undergo, and what you can do to cut the costs.

1. FencingMaybe a few bricks have fallen out in a portion of your brick fence or there are a few warped planks. Seems like no big deal, right? In many cases, the repair could cost could be as little as $100. However, it could also be a sign of a bigger problem that requires a much more expensive fix, possibly even a brand new fence, which will run you in the thousands of dollars.

For a thorough evaluation of your fence's condition, have three fence companies with at least an 'A' rating with the Better Business Bureau come out to give estimates based on both repairs and fence replacement. If you do have a brick or stone fence needing immediate replacement, replacing it with a wood fence might be a good option in terms of cutting down the cost. (For information on how to use the Better Business Bureau website read Do You Need A Home Inspection?)

2. Air Filters The air filters your old apartment used may have cost $1 to replace, but high-quality odd-sized air filters that many new homes require could cost $12 - and you often have to buy them by the dozen. Two dozen $12 filters adds up to almost $300 unexpected dollars! (Thinking about selling your home? Check out Staging Your Home For a Quick Sale.)

To get the best deal on air filters follow these tips.

Conclusion If you haven't bought your home yet, don't assume any repair is minor without getting repair estimates first. If you've already moved in, you can minimize repair expenses by getting as much information as possible about how to repair problems in your home and getting several estimates. Having a new home doesn't mean that things won't break - or that some things aren't already broken. But if you start out with a sound strategy on how you'll handle such repairs, you'll be better prepared.

(For further reading checkout Do You Need A Home Inspection?, 6 Ways To Save On Your Utility Bill and Top Tips For First-Time Home Buyers.)

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New Home Repair Troubleshooting