When the holidays roll around, travel plans, family gatherings, and all the chaos of the season may make you think it’s better to pull your listing off the market or to wait until 2026 to sell your house. But here’s the thing.
Waiting could mean missing out on a great window of opportunity. Because while other sellers are stepping away, you can lean in – and that might actually give you the edge. Here are 4 reasons selling now may be the better bet.
1. Buyers This Time of Year Are Serious
Don’t let the season fool you. While casual browsers tend to step back around the holidays, serious buyers stay in the game. The people looking for homes right now usually aren’t just browsing. They’re ready to make a move and they usually want to close before the new year. As Zillow says:
“While more buyers have tended to shop in the spring and summer months, those shopping in the winter are likely to be motivated — often moving because of a job relocation, change in financial situation, or change in family needs.”
Their timelines are real and missing them would create a hassle for the buyer, so they’re eager to get the deal done. And that’s exactly the kind of buyer you want to work with.
2. You Have Control Over Your Schedule (and Showings)
Some homeowners decide not to sell this time of year because they don’t want to juggle showings during the holiday rush. They’re anticipating traveling to see family and thinking about buyers in their home only adds another layer of complexity.
But here’s what no one’s reminded them. You can control your showings and can set times that work for your schedule. You don’t have to stop your plans to keep your sale on track. The right agent can help you manage your calendar, your showings, and your stress level.
3. Other Sellers May Step Back, Which Means Less Competition
Because fewer sellers tend to list this time of year, the number of homes for sale usually falls a bit. Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, explains:
“As we approach the end of the year, listing activity tends to slow and would-be sellers decide to wait until after the new year to list . . .”
And in a year when inventory has been steadily rising, that seasonal slowdown works in your favor. With the potential for fewer sellers on the market, your house will stand out. So, a seasonal dip in listings could help you get noticed, especially if your home is priced right and presented well.
4. Homes Decorated for the Holidays Can Feel More Inviting
You may not realize it, but seasonal decor can actually help you appeal to buyers. Maybe it’s that they have an easier time picturing themselves making memories in the home. Maybe it just feels cozier and more inviting. Whatever the reason, it works. Sometimes tasteful seasonal touches can make it easier to sell your house.
But don’t go overboard. Keep your choices simple to let your home’s charm shine through.
Bottom Line
There are plenty of good reasons to put (or keep) your house on the market during this time of year.
If you want to talk strategy for how to make the most of this season in your market, connect with a local agent.
Enjoy dinner and tackle stains later with this helpful guide to removing common Thanksgiving Day stains.
Whether you’re in the kitchen preparing a feast, or you’re lounging on the couch watching football enjoying a plate of appetizers, stains are inevitable on Thanksgiving. Once the pie has been eaten, plates have been cleared, and thanks have been given, it’s time to survey the damage to your table linens.
Red wine, chocolate, candle wax, and gravy are all common holiday culprits. But don’t fret just yet if one of them takes a tumble. A holiday full of good times with friends and family and delicious food shouldn’t lead to clothes or a favorite table cloth being ruined by a small stain.
The following Thanksgiving stains can be fixed with a little effort and on-hand ingredients. So feel free to gobble down all your favorite Thanksgiving foods—sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and more. This easy stain guide will keep you and your home stain-free.
Put dish soap on the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes before laundering with cold water. Repeat if there are still traces of the stain. Remember: You should always confirm a stain is completely gone before using the dryer.
Scrape off any excess with a dull knife and run the fabric inside out under cold water to flush out as much of the stain as possible. Pretreat with a laundry stain remover, then wash the fabric on hot.
3. Cranberry Sauce
Rinse the stain with cool water. Add 1 Tbsp. white vinegar and 1/2 tsp. liquid laundry detergent to 1-quart cool water. Blot the mixture on the stain with a clean cloth until the spot has disappeared.
Red wine stains can be tricky to get out. Saturate the area in white vinegar, then rub in liquid detergent. Next, run under hot water to lift the stain. Remember to have your water very hot, not just warm, for the optimal stain-removing power.
Scrape off what you can with a dull knife, then use a hairdryer to melt the remaining wax. This will leave an oily residue you can dab away with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. Launder the item as usual.
Add 1/4 tsp. dishwashing liquid and 3 drops ammonia to 1/2 cup warm water. Using a clean cloth, press the solution into the stain; do not rub. If the spill is on wool or silk, use club soda instead of ammonia.
7. Chocolate
Remove any crumbs or hardened chocolate with a dry, clean toothbrush. Add 1 tablespoon dish soap to 2 cups warm water and apply the mixture using a microfiber cloth, gently dabbing the stain. Do not rub, which can work the stain deeper into the fabric. Repeat a few times before soaking up the solution with a clean towel.
8. Butter and Oil
Much like treating a grease stain, spilled butter or oil can be treated with plain dish soap. Pour several drops of dish soap directly on the stain, making sure it’s completely covered. Let it sit for a few minutes, then use a clean, wet cloth to wipe away the detergent. Wash the garment as normal on cold, making sure the stain is gone before putting the item in the dryer.
9. Mashed Potatoes
The best mashed potatoes are loaded with butter and cream, which can leave stains if you’ve dropped a forkful in your lap. To treat the stain, wipe away any potato residue and then spot treat the area with dish soap. Rinse with cold water (hot water will set the stain) and repeat if necessary before tossing the item in the washing machine.
10. Coffee
An after-dinner coffee spill is easy to treat. Mix one part white vinegar with two parts cold water and use the mixture to rinse out the garment over the sink. Repeat several times until you can no longer see the stain, then wash the item on cold in the washing machine.
Pretreat with liquid laundry detergent, working it in with a toothbrush. Allow the detergent to sit for at least 15 minutes, then wash the fabric on hot. If necessary, repeat before drying.
For some people, cleaning can be a satisfying and productive way to wrap up their day. However, not all household chores are appropriate for nighttime. Tasks like wiping down counters or folding laundry can be done quietly and efficiently, while others may pose risks, disrupt sleep, or annoy nearby neighbors. The time of day you choose to clean can affect effectiveness, safety, and even the lifespan of some appliances.
Cleaning after dark can also lead to minor, albeit annoying, issues, like streaky windows and splotchy surfaces. What’s worse, chemical fumes can pose health risks and linger longer if your home is kept tightly locked at night. To ensure you’re keeping your home and its inhabitants healthy, here are the cleaning chores you should avoid doing at night, along with why it’s better to wait until morning.
1. Cleaning with Chemicals
Many cleaning products contain strong chemicals that require proper ventilation. Ingredients like bleach and ammonia can release fumes that may cause headaches, dizziness, or respiratory irritation. Unless you leave windows open overnight, it can be challenging to air out the rooms you clean. If doing a bit of light cleaning at night, aim to use natural cleaning products to reduce health risks. And if you need to use heavy-duty cleaners, wait to do so during the day when you can open windows or doors to allow for proper air circulation.
2. Washing Windows
Cleaning windows works best in good lighting to achieve a streak-free finish, making nighttime an unsuitable time for the task. Artificial lighting can create shadows and make it challenging to spot smudges, meaning you could wake up to less-than-ideal results. Additionally, wet windows can accumulate condensation overnight, potentially ruining your hard work.
3. Vacuuming
Even if you have one of the latest vacuum cleaners to hit the market or use a robot vacuum, the sound of it running at night will likely disturb your household. If you live in an apartment complex or other type of community where the homes sit close to one another (such as a duplex or townhouse), you also risk being a bother to neighbors. Many local noise ordinances restrict loud activities during designated “quiet hours”, so vacuuming at night could actually land you in trouble. If you need to clean up a mess quickly, try using a broom and dustpan or a handheld vacuum for a quieter solution.
4. Mopping
Mopping the floors after hours can pose an unexpected danger. Wet spots can pose a slipping hazard, especially if someone gets up in the middle of the night, unaware that the floor has just been mopped. It’s also easy to overlook dust, dirt, and stains, resulting in an incomplete clean. If you need to wipe up a late-night spill, consider using a dry mop or spot-cleaning the affected areas instead of attempting to clean the entire floor.
5. Decluttering or Rearranging
If you were the kind of kid who loved to rearrange your bedroom in the middle of the night, you might get the occasional urge to do it as an adult. But, that doesn’t mean you should! Late-night decluttering or moving furniture around can be dangerous, especially in dimly lit spaces. You risk tripping over objects, stubbing toes, or dropping things, leading to injuries or waking others up. Consider these projects to work on when the sun is shining.
6. Deep-Cleaning the Kitchen
Performing late-night light cleaning of kitchen surfaces, like wiping down the counter from leftover dinner spills, is usually no big deal. But scrubbing the oven, tossing expired food from the fridge, and even running the dishwasher can be disruptive. Dishwashers, in particular, tend to be quite loud, which might disturb light sleepers and—in rare cases—can cause a fire, which takes longer to react to if you’re asleep. Moreover, deep cleaning tasks that involve scrubbing or reorganizing cabinets can take longer than anticipated, leaving you feeling exhausted before bed.
7. Doing Laundry
Washers and dryers can be overly noisy, particularly in smaller homes where sound travels easily, and depending on the location of the appliances. The sounds of running water, hard objects (like buttons on a pair of jeans) tumbling around, and the machine’s signals can be grating for those trying to sleep. As with dishwashers, dryers pose a fire hazard if lint buildup leads to overheating, so it’s safer to be awake and alert when using these appliances.
8. Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaners are all the rage right now, but it might be a good idea to wait until daylight hours to use yours. Spills can lead to burns, and accidents are more likely to occur at night when lighting is dim and you may be tired. Furthermore, carpets cleaned with steam can take longer to dry in the cool night air, making them susceptible to mold or mildew growth.
(TIP from CA Real Estate Group: Visit the above link to view a sample photo of each fence type for ideas!)
Increasing the privacy of your yard can be as simple as putting up a fence. However, if you’re on a budget, a traditional fence can be out of reach, as privacy fence installation costs can cost up to $13,000. Luckily, several affordable fence ideas can provide you with the privacy you long for without draining your savings. Below, we’ve provided our top six affordable fence ideas for privacy on a budget, along with installation guidelines, maintenance tips, and average costs, so you know what to plan for.
1. Bamboo Panel Fence
Suppose all you want is a little privacy, but you’re not concerned about keeping animals in or actually increasing the security of your yard. If those priorities were the case, there are few materials better than bamboo panels. An 8-foot section of bamboo privacy fence is around $150, plus the cost of posts and other structural materials.
Although there are undoubtedly more affordable options, bamboo is ideal for small sections of a privacy fence, as it completely blocks visibility into your yard while offering a stylish aesthetic to your outdoor space.
2. Pallet Fence
Pallets have long been used as a starting point for many DIY projects. Unsurprisingly, pallets are a great option for an inexpensive privacy fence because they’re basically already fence panels. Once you place them together and securely fasten them to the ground and one another, you have a fence.
Best of all, you can often find pallets for free by browsing online marketplaces. Even if you want to spring for the premium pallets, you can typically find them for less than $5 each, as businesses often have a surplus they’re looking to dispose of. Lastly, if you don’t love the look of the pallets themselves, you can break them down and utilize the lumber, which is far cheaper than buying lumber from the hardware store.
3. Lattice Fence
Lattice screens are an accessible option for a DIY privacy fence that won’t break the bank. The pressure-treated lattice itself will cost under $30 for an 8-foot section of 4-foot-tall fencing.
When building a DIY privacy fence using lattice panels, factor in the cost of fence posts and structural members. Lattice panels aren’t very strong materials, so you’ll want to make sure they’re secured to something solid to prevent them from sagging, warping, and falling over.
You can further increase the privacy and beauty of a lattice panel fence by planting climbing plants along the base, then training them to fill in and climb the fence. If doing so, make sure your posts are strong enough to support the additional weight of the plants.
4. Living Fence
One of the most effective and visually appealing ways to bolster your yard’s privacy level is to plant a living fence comprised of fast-growing plants like Arbovitae, English Laurel, Privet, Forsythia, Leeland Cyrpruses, and more. While large, established plants can cost hundreds of dollars per plant, you can buy small saplings for under $20 each.
To get the most privacy out of a living hedge, make sure you plant each plant close enough to one another that there are no gaps between them once the plants reach full maturity.
5. Dead Hedge
If you have lots of trees that are constantly shedding limbs, you’re in luck. Use those fallen sticks, twigs, and branches to create a dead hedge. Drive posts into the ground, then weave the sticks around the posts along your desired path, pushing them down as you go.
Over time, you’ll create a gorgeous hedge of branches that both complements your outdoor space and increases your property’s privacy. If you use branches for your posts, you can build this privacy fence completely free of charge.
Weave the branches around the posts while they’re still green and supple. If you wait until they’ve dried, they tend to break.
6. Repurposed Material Fence
If you love a vintage, repurposed look, you can get very creative with your privacy fence. Utilize repurposed materials like old wooden doors and windows, shutters, wood flooring, galvanized metal, barnwood, and whatever else you can find to create the privacy fence you’ve been dreaming of. Oftentimes, you can find these materials for free, though you’ll need to buy posts and other materials to support your fence structure.
If you’re simply after visual privacy, you can construct a privacy screen by building a frame similar to a wooden swing set, then hanging your repurposed materials from the top using chains and hooks. Since most of these materials aren’t intended for outdoor use, you can extend their lifespan by painting or sealing them with a sealant rated for outdoor use and UV exposure.
Find out which staging color combos agents say resonate the most when they’re working with sellers to get a home ready to sell.
When it comes to getting a home market-ready, paint beats almost any other home improvement upgrade. A new Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate poll found that three out of four real estate agents say repainting the interior can add the most value before a sale—sometimes boosting the listing’s value by as much as 10%, or up to $20,000.
“Painting is the most cost-effective upgrade, and you can cover the most space with it,” says real estate broker Josh McGrath, the owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Central in South Charleston and West Virginia and the 2025 President of the West Virginia Association of REALTORS®. Paint and supplies tend to be cheaper than most other house projects, so if a homeowner had $1,000 to spend, McGrath would generally suggest putting it all toward paint.
“Even if you just paint the walls the same color, you get that fresh look. The dents and dings are gone, and you get that clean paint smell,” McGrath says. “That’s the biggest impact you can make.”
Color Choice Matters
Real estate agents understand the value of freshly painted homes. It’s why painting the entire home or at least one interior room is the home remodeling project they most often recommend to homeowners before listing, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2025 Remodeling Impact Report.
And, the BHGRE poll confirmed what many agents see every day: Color can make or break a first impression. The color of the walls can make buyers feel welcome or turn them off. The poll revealed that buyers often hold strong impressions of certain colors.
For example, more than half of respondents said red is the number-one dealbreaker for them in homes they view.
“Red has subliminal messaging,” McGrath says. “Red means stop. Red means caution. It subconsciously drives your blood pressure up. It’s great for a restaurant—but not for a house. A home should feel calm and inviting.”
Other bold hues like orange, neon hues, purples and saturated pinks were also ranked as home buyer turn-offs, according to the survey.
Meanwhile, neutrals still dominate in real estate. Eighty-four percent of agents in the BHGRE survey said whites, grays and beiges remain top choices. McGrath points to an emerging favorite that bridges both cool and warm tones—his favorite Sherwin-Williams’ Worldly Gray, which is mix of beige and gray.
The BHGRE poll revealed the following favorite color combinations when staging a home before listing it:
Beige and soft green (tied as the favorite staging palette)
White and gray (tied as the favorite staging palette)
Navy and white—which offers a contrast without turning off mainstream buyers
Bold combos—such as black and gold or taupe and teal—but used sparingly and often reserved for luxury listings
Half of homeowners say they repaint not to change out the color but simply to refresh their home, according to the BHGRE survey.
“Think about buying a pre-owned car,” McGrath says. “You expect it to be detailed—clean looking nice and smelling fresh. Buyers expect the same thing with a house. Fresh paint makes it feel like its new again.”
Whether selling or not, he recommends repainting a home every three to five years, depending on how you live in the space. “Life leaves marks on the walls,” he says. “A fresh coat of paint can bring it back.”
Get the latest Buena Park real estate update for September 2025! Christine Almarines with the CA Real Estate Group breaks down the newest stats, home prices, and trends in both 90620 and 90621. Whether you’re buying, selling, or just keeping an eye on the market — this video gives you the insider data you need to make smart moves.
🚨 Buena Park Market Update is here! 🚨 Here’s how September played out in both 90620 and 90621 ⬇️
🏡 90620 – Single-Family Homes • 25 Active | 10 Pending | 24 Sold • Avg List: $896,651 • Avg Sold: $910,940 • Avg Days on Market: 24.5
🏘️ 90620 – Condos/Townhomes/PUDs • 4 Active | 3 Pending | 4 Sold • Avg List: $719,475 • Avg Sold: $708,000 • Avg Days on Market: 56
🏡 90621 – Single-Family Homes • 9 Active | 8 Pending | 3 Sold • Avg List: $1,366,666 • Avg Sold: $1,295,000 • Avg Days on Market: 6.6
🏘️ 90621 – Condos/Townhomes/PUDs • 14 Active | 6 Pending | 4 Sold • Avg List: $746,700 • Avg Sold: $742,475 • Avg Days on Market: 43
The market is moving fast — if you’re thinking about buying or selling in Buena Park, let’s build your strategy.
— Christine Almarines CA Real Estate Group ✨ DRE #01412944 powered by Caliber Real Estate “Where we put CARE in every transaction”
Cerritos Update
Get the latest Cerritos real estate market update for September 2025! Christine Almarines with the CA Real Estate Group breaks down key housing stats — from active listings and pending sales to average home prices and days on market. Whether you’re buying, selling, or just staying informed, this update gives you the data-driven insight you need to make confident real estate moves in Cerritos.
Stainless steel appliances add a sleek, modern touch to any kitchen, but keeping them free from fingerprints and smudges can be a serious challenge. Between cooking splatters, greasy hands, and everyday wear and tear, it may feel like your stainless steel appliances look messy. While there are plenty of store-bought cleaning products available, they can come with hefty price tags, strong chemical smells, and ingredients you may not want in your home. Luckily, there’s a simple, cost-effective solution that uses everyday household items.
This three-ingredient, DIY stainless steel cleaner is an eco-friendly and affordable alternative to commercial cleaners that still delivers impressive results. Plus, it only takes 10 minutes to make. Here’s everything you need to know about creating and using this magic spray, along with a few bonus tips to keep your stainless steel looking flawless.
1 drop of dish soap (preferably a gentle, grease-cutting formula like Dawn)
How to Make the Spray
Start by carefully pouring boiling water into a heat-resistant spray bottle. Next, add distilled white vinegar to the bottle. Its natural acidity cuts through fingerprints, grease, and bacteria without scratching surfaces. Then, add a single drop of dish soap. Remember, a little goes a long way, and adding too much can leave a soapy residue. Secure the spray bottle cap and gently swirl the mixture to combine the ingredients.
Note that it’s generally advisable not to clean stainless steel with straight or high-strength vinegar, as it can be too abrasive and may scratch the surface. However, this formula is diluted enough to be safe for use.
How to Use Your DIY Stainless Steel Spray
Ensure the stainless steel surface is cool and dry before you start cleaning. Lightly mist a microfiber cloth with your cleaning solution (avoid spraying directly onto the surface). This technique gives you better control and prevents unnecessary moisture.
Wipe the surface in the direction of the stainless steel’s grain to avoid streaks and result in a polished appearance. For stubborn spots or heavy smudges, spray the affected area lightly and let the solution sit for about a minute before wiping it away.
After cleaning, use a dry, clean microfiber cloth to buff the surface and enhance the shine, removing any remaining moisture.
How It Works
Each ingredient plays a crucial role in effectively removing grime without damaging your appliances:
Boiling water loosens grease and grime, making it easier to clean.
White vinegar naturally breaks down grease, removes fingerprints, and eliminates bacteria due to its mild acidity.
Dish soap cuts through oily residues and lifts dirt without scratching or harming surfaces.
Together, these ingredients create a gentle, yet powerful, solution that restores shine to stainless steel without dulling its finish.
More Tips for Keeping Stainless Steel Clean
Maintaining your stainless steel appliances is easier with a few simple habits. Here are some tips to keep them looking pristine day after day:
Wipe Regularly. Don’t wait for dirt to accumulate. Wiping stainless steel surfaces once or twice a week with the DIY spray will help prevent grime from becoming stubborn and difficult to remove. Pay extra attention to handles and edges as they tend to collect the majority of fingerprints.
Avoid Abrasives. Steer clear of steel wool and other rough scrubbers. Use only soft microfiber cloths or sponges, as abrasive materials can scratch the surface, making it even more prone to buildup.
Polish with Oil. After cleaning, apply a small amount of olive oil or mineral oil to the surface using a clean cloth. This creates a protective barrier that repels fingerprints and gives your appliances a sparkling finish.
Clean Spills Immediately. Acidic foods, such as tomato sauce, citrus juice, or vinegar, can cause discoloration if they sit on stainless steel. Be sure to wipe up spills as soon as they happen (or as you spot them) to prevent stains.
Tackle Tough Stains. If you encounter heavy buildup or stubborn stains on your stainless steel surface, create a paste using baking soda and water. Gently rub it onto the stain with a soft cloth, always moving in the direction of the grain, before rinsing and drying thoroughly.
What to Avoid When Cleaning Stainless Steel
While the DIY spray is safe and effective, it’s important to avoid certain products and practices that can harm your stainless steel.
Bleach or ammonia. Harsh chemicals, such as bleach or glass cleaners that contain ammonia, can damage the protective finish of stainless steel.
Hard water. Hard water can lead to the formation of mineral deposits and streaks. If possible, use distilled or filtered water when preparing your DIY cleaner.
Air Drying. Allowing water to air dry on stainless steel can result in water spots. Always dry the surface with a cloth after cleaning.
Why Hire a Realtor
Can you buy or sell a home without losing thousands of dollars on your bottom line? We all want that, right? The answer is yes, but you need to do a few things. First, be sure to hire an experienced real estate agent when looking to buy or sell your home.
Hi, I’m Letty Luna and I’m Christine Almarines with CARE Group.
We often have conversations with potential sellers and buyers about the pros and cons of working with discounted brokers or an inexperienced realtor, to buy or sell a home. Most of the time, these are individuals who will sell your home for next to nothing because they lack the experience to actually compete with agents and brokers who truly know how to outperform them in experience, negotiation, and sales, it makes us crazy!
Now, We don’t profess to be a doctor, but buying or selling a home is most likely one of your largest assets, right next to your body, and you wouldn’t operate on yourself, would you? Yep, us either; we don’t like the sight of blood, who does? And when hiring a doctor, wouldn’t you want to hire one that specializes in fixing whatever body part you have trouble with?For example, if you broke your hip, you wouldn’t go to a foot doctor. No, you wouldn’t; you’d go to an experienced doctor who specializes in hips.
So, do the same with your real estate and mortgage professionals. It truly can make the difference between you losing a lot of money and potential interest from buyers when you’re selling. If you hire an inexperienced real estate professional to capitalize on your investment, or a lender who isn’t experienced enough to actually know what programs are available for you to capitalize on, you may be leaving money on the table. So hire someone experienced. Lastly, what about negotiations? What if you were being sued? Wouldn’t you want to hire the very best attorney to keep you out of jail or to keep more money in your pocket in case you have to pay out?
Of course, you would! You want to hire a good attorney who can negotiate between you ending up in the slammer or possibly being bankrupt. Well, your home is no different.
Remember, it’s most likely your largest investment, so be careful not to hire an agent whose only card that they can pull out is to reduce their commission because they don’t have the negotiation experience. Hey, if they can’t negotiate on their behalf, most likely that means they can’t negotiate on your behalf either. This could end up costing you thousands and thousands of dollars. So, take my advice. Hiring a specialist with lots of experience, and knowing how to negotiate is the right choice when purchasing or selling your largest investment.
We are CARE Group, and remember, people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
CHRISTINE ALMARINES TEAM LEAD DRE# 01412944 (714) 476-4637 christine@carealestategroup.com
The pleasures of owning a home are many: You have a sanctuary you can customize to your tastes while you build wealth.
Alas, you can’t just sit back and watch your home equity grow. To keep your property in tiptop shape, you also have to shell out for the expense that never goes away: home maintenance.
Combine that outlay with your monthly mortgage payments, homeowners association dues, and utility bills—and you’re staring down a big chunk of change.
To help you keep as much of your money in your bank account, we reached out to the experts for advice. They broke down five of the most expensive home maintenance tasks to reveal what you can do to keep costs low.
The rising home maintenance equation
For years, the rule of thumb on annual home maintenance costs has been to expect to pay between 1% and 4% of your home’s value. For a house valued at $400,000, you might plan on spending anywhere between $4,000 and $16,000.
However, in recent years, homeowners have reported spending closer to the top of that range maintaining their homes.
Some more significant fixes, like septic repair, are known to cost an arm and a leg. Yet lately, the cost of smaller jobs, like landscaping and cleaning your chimney, has increased dramatically.
The home services company Thumbtack recently reported that home maintenance costs had reached an all-time high after increasing 8.5% year over year, from $5,984 in 2022 to $6,493 in 2023.
Read on for the best ways to lower your maintenance bill this year.
1. Keep appliances clean
Appliance repairs typically cost between $100 to $250 per job but can be as much as $500, depending on where you live and what needs fixing. This cost only increases if you end up needing to replace the appliance.
Luckily, you can cut down on these outlays by simply giving your appliances some TLC.
“Maintaining your appliances is a great way to avoid repairs,” says Mallory Micetich, home expert at Angi. “This can be as simple as keeping your oven clean, using a vacuum to clean your dryer vents, and making sure the coils on your refrigerator are clean.”
Other tasks Micetich recommends are regularly replacing the filter in your HVAC system and scheduling a check-in at the midpoint of an appliance’s life span, generally about five years.
“It might be worth hiring a professional for a tuneup to help extend the appliance’s life and avoid having to pay for a replacement,” says Micetich.
2. Get your chimney inspected off-season
If you have a wood-burning stove, you’re probably familiar with the expensive (and messy) annual cleaning routine.
Wood stoves typically cost between $200 to $500 per cleaning. Depending on the kind of wood you burn and how much you use your stove—you might need to do this more than once per year.
“One way to save money here would be to plan to do this project out of season,” says Micetich. “Most folks will think about cleaning their chimney in the fall right before they want to use it, but if you instead do it in the spring or summer, you might be able to save a bit.”
HVAC systems are one of those often forgotten parts of our home—until they stop working.
While HVAC repairs typically cost $350 on average, they can run as much as $3,000. Avoid these expenses by monitoring your system and learning what you can do to keep it humming.
“Homeowners should change their filters regularly,” says Steven McCullough, franchise owner of WIN Home Inspection. “Also, they can consider lowering their thermostat settings in the winter and setting it a little higher in the summer to help prolong the life of the units.”
4. Refinish your deck yourself
Refinishing a deck is one of the most expensive items on Thumbtack’s annual report—costing an average of $1,022 to complete.
If you plan to replace any boards or upgrade the design, that cost will only rise. While quality paints and stains aren’t cheap, labor drives this project’s price.
“This is definitely a DIY job,” says McCullough. “Even if sanding or repairs are involved, homeowners should be able to apply stain and sealing with just a little research and minimal tools.”
5. Tackle your lawn care
Another incredibly pricey item that homeowners spend the big bucks on every year? Lawn care and tree trimming.
A bit of elbow grease and weekend motivation can save you thousands per year on both of these fronts.
“If your trees aren’t too tall and you have the right tools for the job, this can be a great project,” says Micetich. “If the trees cross any electrical lines or are very tall, it’s time to call in a pro.”
Larissa Runkle is a seasoned real estate writer and marketing strategist. She’s published over 1500 articles across top markets, and also works with select developers and brokerages to create high-impact content that drives engagement and builds brand authority. She lives in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado with her husband, son, and two German Shepherds who take their shedding—and squirrel surveillance, very seriously.
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