Home Maintenance and Repair
Homeownership comes with a substantial degree of responsibility—not only the responsibility of paying for this considerable investment, but that of keeping it in working order. Much like your car, your home will come with its own specific set of needs and peculiarities. The Web sites we recommend in this guide can help you keep your home running properly and teach you how to fix some of the glitches that may turn up from time to time.
Expand All Guide SectionsNecessary Home Repairs and Maintenance
Taking some time to do a little research now about your home’s maintenance needs could save you thousands of dollars in repair costs and headaches. The sites in this section can teach you about some maintenance and repairs common to most homes, and what you should be doing (and when) to keep your home functioning properly year-round.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Remember to consider the region in which you live when you learn about your home’s maintenance requirements. If you live in a humid climate, for example, you might need to pay more attention to potential mold problems, whereas a homeowner in a particularly cold climate should be more focused on winter home maintenance.
- Your state’s home builders’ association might be able to offer you some advice. Search for state contact information at the National Association of Home Builders Web site.
- If you rent an apartment or a house, it’s likely that your landlord takes care of most necessary repairs. Make sure you fully understand the provisions of your lease agreement to be sure you know whether it’s okay for you to make any repairs yourself, or how you should proceed in the event something goes wrong in your rental.
- If you have a prefab home, the company that built your home may provide maintenance information on its Web site.
Dulcinea's Picks
For a comprehensive review of home repair …
The Federal Citizen Information Center
offers a helpful series of articles about home maintenance tips, such as how to cool your home naturally, tips for making your home more energy efficient, and how to select a new water heater. Read the articles online for free or pay a small fee (starting at $1) for a print version.
Michigan State University Extension
provides an extensive database of home improvement and maintenance articles. Find articles categorized by keywords (for example: screens, tile, toilets) and organized alphabetically. This site doesn’t come with any bells or whistles but you shouldn’t have a hard time finding what you need.
For seasonal repairs and maintenance …
State Farm Insurance
divides its home maintenance recommendations into seasonal categories. Many such sites particularly focus on winter, but this site teaches how to prepare your home for spring, summer and fall as well. Also find a section on maintenance and precautionary steps to take in your home if you’re planning to leave for a vacation.
Move.com
has a page of useful articles about home maintenance tasks to perform before winter arrives. Most are geared toward keeping your home warm, comfortable and safe from the damage that snow and ice can cause.
The American Red Cross
explains how to keep your home’s pipes from freezing in the winter. In the event your pipes freeze, you’ll learn how to locate the ice blockage and correctly thaw the pipes.
For home maintenance checklists …
The Home Inspector Locator
has a detailed and easy-to-read list of places you should check regularly in and around your home to ensure that everything is in good working order.
The Florida Home Builders Association
offers a checklist that urges you to monitor some areas of your home that other sites might not mention, including ventilation systems, your water well, sewer lines and your driveway.
For specific types of homes …
LogHomeLinks.com
features an article from Log Home Store, Inc., about the routine maintenance you should perform on the exterior of a log home. Learn some specific problems wood homes face and how to correct them.
Mobilehomerepair.com
is owned by a home mobile home repair specialist. Visit the “Articles” section for some helpful information about maintaining your mobile home. Also access articles about troubleshooting problems with your home’s heating and cooling system. Note that this site does contain some ill-placed ads.
Do-It-Yourself Home Repair
If you’ve got the time and the skills necessary to complete a home repair project yourself, you’ll likely save a little money that otherwise would have been spent on hiring a contractor to do the job. Unless the job you’re doing is a relatively simple one, it might be a good idea to turn to some trustworthy sites on the Web to make sure you fully understand the particulars of performing a home repair project yourself.
Dulcinea's Insight
- If you ask for advice on a message board, remember that the responses you’ll find there might not be from an expert. Take any suggestions you receive with the appropriate grain of salt.
- Many Web sites that sell tools and parts for home repair also post instructions for various repair projects.
- Don’t forget to check the Web sites of other well-known hardware stores like Lowe’s and The Home Depot for repair parts and tools.
- If the repairs necessary for your home appear that they may be extensive enough to require a remodel, see our findingDulcinea Home Remodeling Web Guide for more assistance.
Dulcinea's Picks
For DIY Web sites …
Ace Hardware
takes a step-by-step approach in teaching you how to perform various DIY projects in your home. From the ceilings to the floors, this site is sure to have several projects to keep you busy. Start with the fundamentals and learn how to select and use nails and screws properly (believe it or not, all nails and screws are not created equal).
For specific maintenance and repair projects …
Minwax
has a how-to section where you can learn the basics of wood finishing, how to create an antique finish on a piece of wood furniture, and even how to perform “wood first aid” on damaged and aged wood surfaces.
The National Ag Safety Database
explains how to dry out and repair flood-damaged ceilings, walls and floors.
The National Association of Home Builders
explains how to care for your carpet to prevent and clean any discolored spots.
For forums and message boards that discuss home repair …
DoItYourself.com
hosts a home improvement message board where moderators with particular expertise answer questions about home improvement projects. Read the message threads to see if your question has already been answered, or register for free and post a question of your own.
HouseRepairTalk.com
is an online community of do-it-yourselfers who want to talk about their home repair projects. To get the full benefit of this site, take advantage of the free registration, which allows you to post messages and eliminates a majority of the ads you’d otherwise have to wade through.
For tools and parts …
Homefixitparts.com
is an online hardware store with an old-time feeling. Search through the clearly labeled “bins” on the left just like shoppers did years ago to find the parts you want; several parts are from the original manufacturer. The site has the added advantage of telling you how much the shipping and handling fees will be before check out—no waiting until you’ve submitted all your credit card information.
RepairClinic.com
is a source for appliance parts and free repair advice on fixing equipment like dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators and more. Order from the site’s extensive inventory of repair parts, read about how an appliance works, e-mail a “RepairGuru” with questions, or browse a list of commonly asked questions about your problem appliance (click on an appliance under the “Repair Help” section to find these options.
Hometime.com
is the Web site for the TV show with the same name. The site provides a list of product manufacturers the show has worked with. Select the type of product you’re looking for and then the manufacturer name; you’ll get contact information including a phone number and company Web address.
The HGTV Pro MarketPlace
sells many of the tools and products used on the popular TV station. Search for tools and equipment by category (listed on the left of the page), or see what others are buying in the “Popular Searches” section.
Barbara K
sells home repair tools for women. Designed by a single working mother, this site and the tools sold here are meant to empower even the least-handy women to become self-reliant. Look for some how-to projects, including instructions for performing repairs to the interior and exterior of your home. Barbara K tools are also sold in other stores, catalogs and Web sites.
Hiring a Contractor for Home Repairs
Whether you’re too busy or lack the skills required to complete a home repair yourself, you want to make sure you’re employing the best people possible who will get the job done right. Use the Web sites in this section to learn what you need to know about finding and hiring a contractor.
Dulcinea's Insight
- When you’re looking up contractors online, it’s a good idea to check any professional you find against the records of the Better Business Bureau Web site, which displays any complaints consumers have made against a company or individual.
- Different states have different licensing requirements for contractors. To see what is required of a contractor in your state, and to find a licensed contractor where you live, go to the Contractor’s License Reference Site.
- Word of mouth referrals are another good way to go when you’re thinking about hiring a contractor. Once you’ve received a few recommendations from your friends or acquaintances, check for those contractors online to see if they have a Web site (preferably with photos of work they’ve done).
- If you’re not sure what contractors are available where you live, try typing “home maintenance companies” and your city name into your favorite search engine.
Dulcinea's Picks
For advice on hiring a contractor …
PBS
television explains the differences between a contractor and a subcontractor, how to choose the right contractor for your job, and the importance of getting references from potential contractors as well as going to view their work in person when possible.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
teaches you how to hire a contractor and lists some important questions you should ask potential contractors during an interview process. The site also has helpful tips for anyone whose home has been damaged by a natural disaster and is looking for a contractor to complete some repairs. Focus specifically on finding a legitimate contractor and learn to avoid the scam artists that may come out when others are in a time of need.
For help finding a contractor …
ServiceMagic
aims to connect homeowners with service professionals who can help them improve, repair or maintain their home. Start your search by clicking on the category that describes your project, and then continue answering the questions that appear to find pre-screened professionals who might best complete your project. Use of this service is free, but you must create an account to participate.
Cost of Home Improvement/Home Maintenance
The cost of home repairs can be hard to estimate with much precision, but we’ve rounded up some online estimating tools to help you plan your budget. Use these estimating tools for other financial considerations you must take into account, especially if your repairs or maintenance projects are substantial.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Remember that any cost-estimating tools you use on the Web will provide just that: estimates. The actual cost of your project depends on a variety of factors, such as the exact size and scope of the repairs, the quality of the materials used, and even the state in which you live.
Dulcinea's Picks
For home repair estimates …
Home Inspector Locator
isn’t a pretty Web site but it does have an extremely useful, detailed chart of some common home repairs, such as roofing or plumbing work, with cost estimates for each specific type of project.
The Old House Web
has a list of home remodeling and repair projects with estimates of the project costs from Freddie Mac, an entity created by Congress to “provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the housing market.”
For help keeping costs down …
CNNMoney.com
presents an article from “Money Magazine” that suggests keeping your home repair bills down by shopping around for repairmen before you discover a problem in your home. That way, you’ll already have someone you can trust, instead of first trying to find someone when faced with an emergency repair.
The National Association of Home Builders
notes the importance of homeowner’s insurance when it comes to repairs and maintenance on your home. Learn how to double check whether you have enough coverage for when serious repairs are required.
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
