I have owned four homes in my life, and I can tell you: The list of surprise expenses never seems to stop. Yes, I have always favored older homes, so I probably get more fix-its than someone with a brand-new house. But, I think that if your home is even just 10 years old, you are going to have to keep that savings account stocked with emergency funds, and keep that checkbook handy. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I think it can be really helpful to prospective and recent homebuyers to know about the kinds of expenses — surprises, as well as costs that can easily escalate — that they may expect. So, I’m throwing this story open to readers to share their experiences.
Readers:
What problems have you needed to throw money at,
when it comes to repairing or maintaining your home —
things you never really expected, or
which ended up costing much more than you planned?
.
I’ll start our list by explaining my photo above: Tree damage. A tree on my neighbor’s lot fell half-way out of the ground and onto our fence. We were responsible for all damage, can you believe it. Had to pay to have the tree completely removed (from the point at which it crossed our property line), and I have yet to have the fence repaired. Yes: Insurance paid for some of it. But overall, less than 1/4 of the expense, I’d say. We have spent A LOT of money trimming, cabling, removing and repairing damage — all due to trees on our mature lot. Pain in the a** and definitely, an unexpected pain in the wallet.
Nina462 says
Oh yes, the tree issues! We had a major storm here in late July – straight line winds etc. That picture looks like my Mom’s fence (only her’s was the length of the yard, smashing all her lilacs). I, on the other hand, had 2 huge oaks removed (over 100 years old) and 5 pines, along with others that needed to go. I keep telling myself that God was telling me to landscape in a not so subtle way. $3000 later – my next goal is the plant grass seed to cover the multiple bare spots. The big round bare spot in the back yard ? fire pit or flower garden w/bird bath? I have all winter to decide (and lots of old magazines to peruse).
I have replace the furnace last year. The only thing I really regret doing is replacing the windows – big mistake!! While the replacements are fine – I miss the old and couldv’e just had them repaired for the same amount of money.
Paula says
We have (knock wood) not had any major surprises when we bought a near century old home 2 years ago. Everything we did was forewarned: roof, furnace, A/C, water heater. So we budgeted the work into our purchase budget, and have saved thousands on energy bills (in addition to government rebates) since moving in. Score!
One ‘almost’ surprise came in the form of sewer odour that was in the house on the day we moved in. It turned out to have transpired because our traps dried out, but we had the drains snaked anyways to be safe. $300 well spent for peace of mind – lined clay pipes, no tree roots, PVC at the front of the house, hooray!!
The worst reno gone wrong story I’ve heard is not mine, but was in a recent article in Toronto Life about a family that dug out their basement, only to find out 10 years later that the work was shoddy. They found out in the form of a rat infestation that nearly drove them over the bed, let alone having to deal with the costs that came with it!
So not my horror story (thank god) but I think they would win any horror ‘surpirse’ contest. Has anyone else read that article? I can’t seem to find it …
Katie says
My husband and I just bought our first house at the beginning of this month. Luckily, the previous owners did the majority of the expensive repairs on the 1958 brick ranch, such as a new roof, and replaced the old oil tank with a high efficiency heat pump.
Unfortunately, they also made some very unwise choices. They painted the brick (gasp!) and covered it with ivy. After weekends of scraping the ivy off of the house, we finally get to the roots which not only go under the house, but under the driveway as well. AND, pulling off the ivy also pulled off a pretty significant amount of the paint, which revealed that the brick was not just your standard red, but this gorgeous multi-colored brick, with dark red brick accents. Now we have to debate taking a power washer to the entire thing, and hope it is somewhat salvageable. If not, we’ll have to grudgingly repaint it. Again.
But there is silver lining, upon pulling out the masses of greenery from the front, we discovered original brick planters built onto the front of the house. UNPAINTED!
Kat the Gypsy says
Water has been our biggest unforeseen expense in both our houses. 2 years ago we bought a 1985 concrete block house. Drains were always slow, but we didn’t know what the problem was. So last year, on Christmas vacation we got a call from our tenant that sewage was backing up. The main sewage line had to be replaced due to tree roots damage, which meant digging up the concrete and my newly laid porcelain tiles in a foot-wide line from the guest bath through the guest room, all the way to the street, to the tune of $8K.
In our current home, built in 1955, we could never run the washing machine more than once or the wash water would back into the master bath (both were added to the original and shared a sewage line.) After cleaning up floods one too many times, we had the camera put down the line and discovered something shocking. When they installed a natural gas line some 12 years prior, they simply drilled through the ground – and diagonally through said sewage line. Luckily the gas company came, dug, and replaced the gas line, and with the digging out of the way it was a simple fix to cut out and replace the damage to the sewer pipe. Now we know why the house inspector noticed the washing machine wasn’t connected and therefore couldn’t be tested.
Old houses are great, but renovations are a pain. You NEVER KNOW what’s inside/behind/beneath all that charm until you open it up!
pam kueber says
hmmmm… I always thought that when you sell a house, you need — legally — to disclose all known issues!
JamieAbe says
I believe that’s correct, I wish that it happened that way. There have been several things that we have found that the sellers didn’t disclose,i.e. the old man dying in the house. If I could go back with what I know now, there would have been some better negotiating.
pam kueber says
Expected: Spent money to replace the original oil furnace — a behemoth Chrysler Air-Temp — with a much more efficient and cleaner-burning natural gas furnace. Had to pay also for the natural gas service to come into the house — again, expected.
Unexpected: Paying good green money to have the humongous oil tank removed from the house. The guys had to first make sure it was completely empty, then they had to chop it into pieces to get it out. When you take out an oil tank — BE SURE to have the line coming in from the outside of the house Immediately plugged. Fill it with concrete! I have heard horror stories of people taking out their oil tank… not filling that hole… calling to tell the oil company “no more deliveries”… but then the oil company messes up — and comes and starts filling the oil tank that is no longer there — filling the basement with oil. As I recall, houses may end up condemned — torn down — when this happens. Anecdotal memory, though. Good lesson nonetheless.
Golly, this is fun.
The Atomic Mom says
I’d say, always have professionals do stuff like gas lines, anything with oil, major plumbing and electrcal. It’s worth the $$ to have the safety of knowing it’s being done right. Every time I hear about home heating oil systems makes me so glad taht out west we’ve always had the Natural Gas to begin with!
The Atomic Mom says
Our house was built in 1949, so we knew along the way we’d be doing updates and repairs:
The first month we had to replace the furnace. We knew it was original to the house and would need to be replaced soon, but it started leaking nat gas about 8 weeks after we’d bought the house. Got that one fixed really quickly so we didn’t all blow up.
Over the last few years our orginal windows started to not open or close right. A few of them were even broken closed. Someone had also tried to do homemade double panes on some of them, resulting in black mold growing between the panes. We replaced all of the windows 2 years ago, after saving for three. It’s nice to be able to open the windows now, since we don’t have A/C and having a breeze in the summer is essential to our survival.
None of the outside doors are sqare in the jambs as well. It makes for very cold winters. So those are getting replaced next week. Although, I’m keeping the original trim and reinstalling that around the doors.
The porcelin on our bathtub also failed, and we had to fix that as well. We used a company called Re-Bath. They come and take the tub measurements, and then make a new liner to go over your old tub (which was white…no pink elements were harmed!!). It’s been a nice update, styas clean and looks like the old original tub.
I like living in an old house though, it has charm and history and is not so cookie cutter looking like so many houses today, although in looking around our neigborhood it was cookie cutter for them time…but doesn’t seem so now.
The Atomic Mom says
I forgot to mention that when we had the windows done, we had everything tested for lead paint…and everything came out positive. The workers had to do lead paint abatment, which cost an extra $500. It’s my understanding now that it’s Fed Law that any contracted work you have done has to to lead paint testing if your home was built before 1978. Just a warning, it can be expensive.
Diane says
Bought my very first home all on my own. The day I moved in a good friend of mine helping me asked if I wanted one (there were two) of my trees cut down in my back yard. (What a good guy!) I said yes of course. The tree looked to be a possible problem in the future is we would have had a bad wind storm. He cut my tree down for me, and I had a company come remove the bush, limbs etc. I had ONE Baby to Medium size tree left, which hung over my neighbors fence. No yard on that side mind you just a long shed. Two weeks later I came home for a weekend away, went out to my back yard to find EVERYTHING on my tree hanging over the neighbor’s fence GONE. The tree was ruined! They didn’t even ask me to trim it back! I was so angry, I cut the entire tree down. Of course out in front of my yard my neighbor’s don’t mind my trees because it gives them shade for their cars in the summer time. I know this has nothing to do with insurance etc. but I sure wish there was a list of rules or laws that you have to be aware of when you purchase your home, then there might not be so many unexpected financial crisis or possibly prevent problems between neighbor’s property lines.
I have the last laugh though! The neighbor’s irrigation line is on my property, I use it ALL Summer long. HA!
pam kueber says
It is my understanding that neighbors have the right to cut down any part of a tree hanging on their side of the property line. But, I think either they are supposed to tell you first — to give you the opportunity, first, to remediate. Or, it’s “nice” if they tell you — good karma. Trees are a PAIN.
kathyhora says
Trees ARE a pain, we clear leaves from now until mid December — we have a ton of trees…they make our property and our little brick house so pretty though, and until we can’t do it anymore we will put up with them!
What i wanted to tell you all is that for the past 6-7 years I have cleaned new construction houses prior to the owners moving in. I wouln’t have a new house on a platter! If someone gave me one I wouldn’t keep it! Particle board floors…the same “amenities” just changed around a little bit…before we go in we always say “let me guess – fake hardwood floors, granite counter tops, island in the kitchen, same ole ugly colors n the walls”….no nooks or cranies, no personality, and really not a lot of quality….sure these babies look great…but I’m betting 20-30 years from now they have half the class and beauty of our homes.
I work in the electical industry — we lose contracts with our electrical contractors over a PENNY an electrical device (outlet, GFI, etc) because they have to save money…on 300K-500k houses? We are talking NE Ohio — our housing cost are pretty normal…so these are upper middle class housing…
I have learned that I will take my little 50’s cape cod anyday. And trust me, when we bought it, the kitchen sink was sitting by the front door…it’s been 7+ years and we are just now getting finished all that we had to do. But I will take it’s honest, good construction any day of the week!
pam kueber says
Thank you, Kathy! I think you are right about quality of construction materials (generally) today vs. in the 40s, 50s and 60s. In my basement, there are STEEL beams holding up the first floor!
Diane says
I agree and understand. I just wish they would have asked first, I could have helped or arranged for help. I just came home and it looked like a space age lazer cut everything off to the fence line AND dropped all the brush, branches, etc,..in my yard. You are definitely right, what comes around, goes around. I truly believe in that. Thanks for the reply Pam!
pam kueber says
From what I’ve read — their cutting is not supposed to KILL a tree. Yes, best to be resolved amicably!
Chris H says
We bought our 1917 house almost 30 years ago, and we’ve been pretty fortunate. Expenses yes, but they weren’t a surprise.
The furnace was a late ’40s or early ’50s “Mor-Sun” nat. gas unit. It was about the size of a DeSoto. We were glad to get 10 more years use out of it before it had to be replaced. We were able to use all the existing duct work, so the cost of installation wasn’t bad at all.
A new water heater was needed immediately, so we went to Sears and got one. We paid a plumber to install it. It lasted until a year ago and was replaced by a tankless unit (unlimited hot water )
We wondered how long the roof would last. We got by for a few years with roofing tar patches, but finally had to put a new one on. I did the work myself so my cost was a few sheets of plywood to replace some “decking” snow and ice barrier, and shingles. I’m comfortable on ladders and roofs, so I was able to save lots of $$$. It cost less than $3K, 11 years ago. No leaks in that time. I understand that some people just aren’t the DIY type, but if you live in a ranch, and have 3 tab asphalt shingles, you really should consider doing your own roof. It’s dirty physical work, but it requires very little skill.
pam kueber says
Considering how hard it is to get roofers, where I live at least, YES, I would do it myself using three-tabs next time. Thanks for the upbeat comment — yes, many of our houses were well-built in so many fundamental ways.
Jeff says
Pam, WOW, sorry about the chimney, I had a similar problem, but solved it with flashing and tuckpointing, and a new cement cap- 650 bucks. Though I really need a new roof in a year or two as funds permit.
I really appreciate your comment on the fact that many of our homes were built by their original owners- with their own hands!
Mine was built by a gentleman who remained single his entire life, and when doing research on it, found the original 1953 buliding permit where it was handwritten as to the “builders” name, it said “self.”
He hauled in black cinder blocks made from real clinkers, ordered windows from Kirlin Lighting (when they made windows) a company which is still in business in Detroit, and is famous for the recessed light, which I believe they invented. The house also has numerous recessed Kirlin lights with the ziggurat shaped glass inserts with the big “K” in the center.
A testament to the quality “can do” attitude of the post World War II crowd are the houses we live in!
Not a crack in my coved ceilings, my wet plaster walls- my exterior block is coated in a thousand layers of insulating paint making it look more like stone than clinkers, no squeaks in the red oak floors, teased out of one of the giant red oaks on the property, now just a rotten stump, 8 feet in diameter, sleeping under ancient vinca vines.
This is why we love our houses- they have a history, and were loved enough by someone who took the time to design and build them with their very hands.
Perhaps the best part of my house, in reality.
gavin hastings says
My litmus test with home improvement is:
Can I afford to be out of work if something goes wrong? My health insurance deductable is $100…. I am paying $300 this week for a professional to come and paint the peaks of my house. I have already completed the first floor.
I work in an ER….people get hurt falling off ladders and it happens all the time.
Lauryn says
Of all the crazy things on this post, I think someone having a $100 deductible is the craziest! I thought deductibles like that were a thing of the past (this from someone whose deductible is $7500). Makes it hard to use that as a litmus test!
gavin hastings says
Man stands on edge of 2nd story roof wiith broom to clean out gutters…..
Man goes up tree to trim branches, cardiac arrest, and is found in tree next day by family…..
Man uses electric iron to clear ice jamb on roof…….
This was all in the past year.
Folks, stay on the ground or at least make your home repairs with a cell phone in hand and some else close-by. Really.
Lauryn says
Thanks for the reminder, Gavin! We are very safety-conscious around our little casa … an enormous deductible and a happily co-dependent relationship will do that … and never take on anything we don’t feel comfortable doing, nor do anything that is even remotely an issue (like getting on a ladder) unless someone else is home.
Natalie says
$100 deductible?! Can I work for your company? That’s insane, I didn’t know any plans like that existed anymore. Cherish it while it lasts.
Ann-Marie Meyers says
Oh, yeah. Makes me think of Max McGee, the former Packer announcer, who went up on his roof to blow off leaves, fell off and died.
I leave the roof stuff to the roofing pros.
pam kueber says
I’ll add another one from our recent experience: Chimney repair. When we bought the house, we could see that the chimney had leaks into the attic. But, we weren’t planning on using the attic except for storage, so we weren’t particularly concerned. Besides, we thought ‘brick “just” needs repointing.’ After the first year, we saw that the the leaking was so serious it formed icesickles (sp?) in the attic. So we started on our journey: (1) Adding chimney covers; (2) Reflashing when we had our roof replaced; (3) Reflashing again when it turned out the roofers installed a ridge vent [stupid, it turns out] all the way to the chimney leaving the space wide open for new leakages; (4) REPLACING/REBUILDING the chimney — $6,000, as I recall — which DIDN’T SOLVE THE PROBLEM because of the way the chimney was designed and which the rebuilder missed; (4) Adding bigger chimney covers. Guess what? Still leaks.
Marion R says
I cannot stress enough how important it is to find a qualified home inspector! One of the best professional organizations is ASHI. Every state has a chapter with regular meetings of its members. When we relocated, we bought the third house we had inspected!