Keeping Track of Home Maintenance Needs

PALO ALTO — A lot of homeowners are unaware that their houses, whether new or old, won’t last forever. They don’t seem to realize that nearly every component of the home (and there are thousands) has a finite shelf life. Eventually, these components will wear out, get old and fail, while in other cases they may just fall out of fashion.

Small items that fail aren’t usually a big deal…if you can catch them early and attend to them right away. Big components that fail are another matter. Plumbing, water heaters, roofing, gutters, windows, doors, siding, and foundations that wear out and fail can cost thousands of dollars to repair or replace.

I recommend learning the ages and expected lifespans of the various key parts of your home. From there, you can project when major expenses are likely to occur and plan accordingly. If you need help with this, a home maintenance professional can be a great resource.