It’s amazing the number of things that can go wrong with a house. I think right now I need to replace the windows… the siding… the doors… the kitchen… the bathroom… the driveway… Why does it all seem to go bad at the same time? I used to think it was just because my house is almost 40 years old. Windows and siding aren’t made to last that long… at least not the ones on my house. I have friends though with a house that’s only a few years old and they have their share of problems. So I try to not feel so bad about my place.
I’m told there is a “ten percent rule.” Every year, you need to spend ten percent of the total value of your house on maintainance to keep it healthy. This includes everything from replacing faucet gaskets to reroofing, painting inside and out, and having wiring brought up to code. If you’re buying a house, and you can’t afford that sort of annual expenditure, you need to get a less expensive house.