When you buy a house, spending money is not over. In fact, the fun has just begun. There are many costs in the house. The main thing is maintenance.
Many buyers may not take maintenance into consideration when purchasing a home. Especially for first timers moving out of rentals where the problem is primarily handled by landlords. Results: Even surprises and alarms can cause major appliances to die, furnaces to die, roofs to begin leaking. In addition to unexpected repairs, there are daily daily maintenance costs. That too will increase soon. In fact, it currently averages over $8,800 a year. The hidden costs of bankrate homeownership research.
It’s a small wonder that homeowners are feeling financially burdened these days. A recent survey by online home services company Angi found that nearly half (48%) of homeowners have said that forced repairs have increased since their launch in 2025.
Let’s take a look at the most common (and most expensive) home maintenance costs, why they’re on the rise, and how much budget you should make for them.
Why do home maintenance costs increase?
“The biggest concern we’ve seen among homeowners is affordability,” says Hicks. And there’s a good reason.
Since the pandemic, maintenance and repair costs have passed the roof (no pun intended). Due to supply chain issues, there is a shortage of materials and is now beginning to mitigate. On the demand side, it will increase Extreme weather phenomenon Increased the need and frequency of repairs. It is burdened by the labor force and the costs of contractors and professional services are also rising.
When it came out of Covid, borrowing costs became more expensive. Interest rates rise In particular, the home equity loans and credit lines made massive renovations and repairs more expensive.
Plus, typical ongoing homeownership costs are rising, including property taxes, homeowner insurance, and HOA fees. According to the hidden costs of Bankrate homeownership investigations, a typical single-family home costs over $21,000 a year to own and maintain. However, this is the national average. Like everything related to real estate, the cost of homeownership varies greatly depending on your location. These range from nearly $12,600 a year in West Virginia to just under $34,600 in Hawaii on average.
These rising costs amount to 71% of homeowners postponing projects planned this year, according to the ANGI survey.
Which home maintenance costs increased the most?
According to home renovation platform Thumbtack, seven categories of home care have gained double-digit increases in repair and maintenance costs over the past year (Q1 2024 to Q1 2025). these are:
| project | Increases compared to previous year |
|---|---|
| Roof repair or maintenance | 28.47% |
| Fireplace and chimney cleaning or repair | 16.73% |
| Sprinkler/irrigation system | 13.11% |
| Tree trimming/removing | 12.56% |
| Water heater repair or maintenance | 12.22% |
| Full-service lawn care | 11.11% |
| Central A/C repair or maintenance | 10.00% |
Source: Thumbtack Home Care Price Index, Q1 2025
Don’t expect immediate relief for what the short-term future holds for maintenance prices. In addition to general inflation, Harvard University’s Improved American Housing 2025 Report’s Housing Research Center refers to a variety of factors that can cause continuous rises, including:
Most expensive home maintenance costs
According to Thumbtack’s Home Care Price Index, the most expensive annual home maintenance and repair costs are: All prices are in Q1 2025.
1. House cleaning
Not all homeowners hire professional cleaners, but those who do so can make it an expensive service. The average annual cost of a house cleaning is $2,722. It categorizes almost $225 a month.
For households with one or more ears, busy schedules and large families, the cost may make a lot of sense. It’s more than just security. A clean home is less likely to attract pests, has mold problems and is not particularly dangerous.
2. Roof repair/maintenance
Repairing and maintaining the roof is a costly effort, and costs are rising. The average cost of roof repair or maintenance was $1,471, an increase of nearly 30% from last year.
A roof replacement is one of the most expensive repairs that a homeowner can pay and falls in the five-digit range. In states where roof damage is likely, like Florida, homeowners’ insurance companies may need to replace their roofs once they reach a certain age.
3. Tree trimming/delete
Wood can be a great asset for your property, especially when offering generous shades in a few months of hot summer. However, you will also need to maintain it, especially if you are close to your home. And if they are too close, unhealthy or too big, you may need to remove them. The average annual cost of tree trimming and removal is $1,138. It may seem expensive, but it is not as expensive as damage to the roof, plumbing, or foundation that neglected trees can cause.
4. lawn mower
Lawns cost money. Average $823 per year. That’s if you hire a job. The good news is that mowing the lawn is something that many homeowners can do on their own, unlike trimming wood or repairing roofs. Still, you’ll have to pay for the equipment and fuel, which is time-consuming. If you want to hire a professional cutting professional, you still have a silver lining. The annual cost of $823 is over 7% compared to last year.
5. Window Cleaning
Another expensive service – if you hire someone to strip and squeeze the windows, you’re looking at an average annual cost of $519. On the plus side, this is a viable and low-cost job for most homeowners, unless you live in a glass home or on a second floor.
6. Water heater repair/maintenance
One of the main stimuli in life is taking a shower and realizing that there is no hot water. That feeling only gets worse if there is a problem with the water heater, not just the pilot light. The average annual cost of water heater repair and maintenance is $505. However, if you need to replace your water heater, Angi says, it costs about $1,300 on average.
7. Cleaning the grooves
A often overlooked part, the groove plays an important role in keeping your home safe and stable. By diverting water from rafters, walls and foundations, they protect your home from flooding, mold and decay caused by water. Considering where you will protect your home, the average annual cost of $468 is minimal when comparing your ditch to negligible damages.
8. Deck dyeing and sealing
A lovely deck is a home feature that can add a lot of value to your location. It costs an average of $415 a year to seal and dye your deck, but remember that this cost can vary widely depending on your deck’s material (how often it affects the frequency of dyeing), size, usage level, and whether you decide to do it yourself. I personally discovered that the 3 gallons of dirt I needed on my deck (about 500 square feet) costs around $150. This is a job that you do every 3-4 years.
How much should I spend on home maintenance?
Home maintenance, an average of $8,808 per year, accounts for the biggest chunk of hidden homeownership costs, Bankrate research found. Maintenance can be summed up, but in most cases it is cheaper than repairs or renovations. The budget for maintenance and daily revisions depends on the income and location, as well as the size and value of the home.
How do I estimate the cost? A budget of up to 4% of the value of the home for annual maintenance costs – an additional 1% for regular maintenance and 1-3% for repairs. Therefore, this equation collapses as follows:
| House costs | Regular maintenance | repair | Total budget (max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $2,500 | $2,500 – $7,500 | $10,000 |
| $400,000 | $4,000 | $4,000 – $12,000 | $16,000 |
| $600,000 | $6,000 | $6,000 – $18,000 | $24,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 – $30,000 | $40,000 |
Please note that older homes typically require more maintenance and may require more extensive repairs over time. In many cases, major home systems or equipment must be replaced or updated, such as central air conditioning or roof replacement. If you are in that position, being prepared to pay for repairs is very important.
How to pay for home repairs and renovations
“What we’re seeing is that over 70% of homeowners prioritize preventive maintenance to avoid large future bills, which is an encouraging sign,” says Hicks. Still, all homeowners will experience the situation when “maintain” eventually transforms into “upgrades.”
For example, the author had an air conditioner over 30 failed on the weekend of July 4th last year. We had to decide: do quick fixes or invest in new capacitors? The temporary fix would cost about $200 and would have won us through one or two more summers. Another way was to spend thousands of dollars installing something completely new.
We chose to use the more expensive option, especially in the middle of summer, as we didn’t want to sink our money into a dying AC unit. It was worth knowing that the whole family would sleep easily in the heat for years to come. Luckily we were expecting a need (AC was hanging in threads) and saved to cover it.
However, if you are unable to pay out of pocket for large-scale repairs or improvements, you may be able to use Home Equity. These are the main vehicles for renting your home equity.
- Cash-out refinance: Cash-Out Refi allows you to replace your existing primary mortgage with a larger mortgage and pocket the differences. This choice is ideal if you can get a fee lower than the rate on your primary loan. However, to do so you need to have at least 20% stake in your home.
- Home Equity Loan: A home equity loan is an additional lien for your home that pays a lump sum. You will pay it off at a fixed interest rate. A good option if you want to keep your major mortgage intact and repair or renovate at the set cost.
- HELOC: Home Equity’s credit line is like a child with a home equity loan and credit card. You can turn equity into cash and maintain your primary mortgage like a home equity loan, but you can withdraw funds at various intervals to limits, like a credit card (in fact, some HELOCs offer the cards to use). HELOC is ideal if you don’t know exactly what the cost of your project is, or if you want to pay over time.
Conclusions regarding home maintenance costs
We get it: the cost of maintaining your home can be a sip of your budget you don’t have. In fact, a Bankrate homeowner’s regret survey found that among homeowners who regret buying from home, the most common complaint (42%) is that maintenance and other hidden costs are more expensive than expected.
The reality is that when you buy a house, you take responsibility for maintaining it. This responsibility means keeping things in good condition and making necessary repairs quickly. An unmaintained home can be unsafe as well as losing its value (depleting ownership interests).
Homes today are more valuable than ever, and this makes proper home maintenance more important than ever. “Homeowners say they plan to stay home in the long run,” says Marco Zappocosta, CEO and founder of Thumbtack. “And as the average US home continues to see the impact of aging housing supply at 43 years old, maintenance is a very important part of making things run smoothly and avoiding emergencies.”
