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Easy Ways To Budget For Unexpected Home Services

It’s the worst feeling when you think everything’s running smoothly at home and then something unexpected happens that knocks everything off kilter. Maybe the sink decides to overflow or your heater conks out in the middle of winter. And you don’t ever want to find out you’ve got a pest problem (but it happens more than you might think)! The fact is that whatever it happens to be, these unexpected maintenance issues can put a real dent in your wallet if you’re not prepared, which is why getting prepared and knowing how to budget for unexpected (but completely necessary) home services is worthwhile. With that in mind, keep reading to find out what to do. 

Photo by Luca Nardone

Set Up An Emergency Fund 

It might be that the idea of setting up an emergency fund sounds like one of those things people talk about but never actually do, but the truth is that it can be the very thing that helps you the most when it comes to getting things sorted out at home, so you really need to take the next step and start the ball rolling. Having a little stash of cash set aside specifically for unexpected home expenses can save you a lot of stress when things go wrong, and because things are sure to go wrong at some point, that money isn’t going to be wasted. 

Start small if you need to; you don’t need to have thousands in your emergency fund right away. The fact is that even setting aside $20 a week will start adding up before you know it, and the sooner you start, the sooner you can feel a little easier about dealing with things in your home. 

Plan For Seasonal Maintenance 

Sometimes the best way to budget for unexpected expenses is to avoid them in the first place (and yes, it is possible – some of the time, at least). What we mean is that regular home maintenance goes a long way in preventing expensive breakdowns and repairs. 

Think about the seasons to begin with. In winter, your heater works overtime and in summer, your AC is the most important thing. So, scheduling seasonal checkups for things like your heating, cooling, and plumbing systems can catch issues early before they turn into budget-busting emergencies. 

It’s true that this kind of maintenance costs a little more upfront, but it’s usually a lot cheaper than the cost of emergency repairs, and you’ll probably rather spend less than more. That means the solution is an easy one to work out. 

Use Buy Now Pay Later

If you find that an emergency pops up but you’ve not got the funds to completely cover it, you could consider using the buy now pay later (BNPL) option. You’ve probably seen that you can use this kind of payment method when it comes to smaller items like clothing or electronics, but you can also use it for larger things, like the home repairs we’re talking about in this post. 

When unexpected expenses hit, you can use BNPL to spread the cost and ensure that the work can still be done. One great option is BNPL pest control, for example, because you won’t have to let the pests damage your home or make things generally nasty for you while you save the money to pay for an expert to help you – instead, you can spread the cost and get the job done much faster; it’s clearly a great option. 

DIY When You Can 

A good DIY project can be a lot of fun, and whether it’s fixing a leaking tap or unclogging a drain, it’s generally a cheaper, quicker option to tackle small home emergencies and repairs by yourself. As long as you’ve got a few basic tools to ensure you can do what needs to be done and access to YouTube to watch explainer videos, you can often do plenty of small tasks by yourself (and get a great sense of accomplishment at the same time). 

Of course, it’s vital to know your limits – some things, like changing a light bulb or resealing your windows are absolutely DIY jobs, but if you’re dealing with electrical issues, major plumbing repairs, or a pest infestation, it’s time to call in the pros. Trying to handle these big tasks on your own can lead to bigger problems and more expensive repairs later on, and it’s just not worth it, even if it seems as though it would save you money right now. 

Negotiate With Service Providers

Here’s a little secret not many people know about; you don’t always have to accept the first quote you’re given. If you’re faced with an unexpected home repair, don’t be afraid to negotiate with service providers because many companies are open to giving discounts, offering payment plans, or price matching a competitor’s quote, so it’s always worth asking. The worst that can happen is they say they can’t help, and you won’t be any worse off (especially if you’ve found a cheaper alternative). 

It’s always a good idea to get more than one quote anyway, even if you’re not intending to price match – getting more than one price means you’ll have a good idea of what you should be paying, give or take, and you can also check you’re getting the best deal. Just make sure you’re not sacrificing quality for cost because the cheapest price isn’t always going to give you the best final results. 

Make Friends With Your Neighbors

This idea might seem a little bit strange and random, but it can be useful – sometimes your neighbors can be your best resource when it comes to unexpected home expenses. It could be that they’ve dealt with similar issues themselves, and they might be able to recommend good service providers to help you deal with yours. 

Plus, there’s always strength in numbers! If you and a neighbor both need similar work done, you might be able to negotiate a discount with the supplier, or at least split the cost in some way. And making friends with your neighbors just makes life more pleasant at home anyway, so why not have a chat and see what happens? 

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