Homelight | Jan 28, 2021

We’re continuing in our Weekly Series of “The 7 Most Painfully Expensive Home Repairs to Avoid.”

Today, we’re covering “Water damage.”

The average homeowner spent a total of $4,832 on routine and emergency home repairs in 2019. However, some of the most expensive home repairs have the ability to wipe out your entire yearly maintenance savings and then some.

On top of being pricey, major problems like pest infections and structural instability can make your home difficult to market and sell, not to mention tank your property value. With this guide, real estate experts identify the worst home repairs for your wallet and offer expert insights into preventive maintenance and early detection.

Water damage ($1,000-$5,000)

Water in a home can destroy your ceiling, walls, flooring, and personal belongings, while moisture in the wrong places can lead to harmful mold. You don’t need a flood or other catastrophic event for water to intrude your home, either. A burst pipe, roof leak, clogged gutter, sewage backup, rotted siding, or broken fixture like an old bathtub can all cause water damage.

Unfortunately, water damage is a common home occurrence. Every day 14,000 Americans face a water damage emergency, while 98% of basements will have water damage at some point in their lifetime. However, there are steps you can take to protect your home from water intrusion.

Estimated cost to repair: 

• Average: $3,030
• Low end: $1,170
• Mid-range: $4,890

(Source: Data reported by 1,106 HomeAdvisor members)

Warning signs:
Beyond walking down the stairs to find a flooded basement, these are few signs that you’ve got a water leak:

• Bubbling or peeling paint on your walls
• Stains and water marks on your walls or ceilings
• Damaged flooring
• High water bills
• Low water pressure
• Odd plumbing sounds

Key prevention tactics:
Since water damage can stem from a bunch of places including your plumbing, roof, or basement, you’ll need a multi-pronged prevention strategy:

• Take good care of your drains: Don’t pour grease down your kitchen sink and check under sinks around the house to make sure drains aren’t leaking on a regular basis.
• Install a sump pump: A sump pump protects your basement from flooding. When the pump senses water, it activates and sends moisture through a discharge pipe, keeping your carpet nice and dry.
• Check for damaged siding and repair it right away: Look for any discolored areas on your home’s siding, fascia, or soffit, which can be a sign of rotten or decayed wood. “You use a screwdriver to push into the wood to see if it penetrates the wood,” says Kennamer. “If so, it will need to be replaced.”

Who to call for help:  If you have a leaky pipe or stained ceiling or wall, call CA Real Estate Group at (714) 476-4637 for our preferred plumbing experts to evaluate the situation.  To remediate water damage, we can refer you to the remediation experts that we work with or you can contact a water damage cleanup professional or restoration service.