How much do you spend on house each year?

D

Davida

Registered User
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Hi all - I've been in my house for about 10 years and to be honest, I haven't done much work on it (just essential maintenance). It does need a good bit of upgrading as it's looking shabby but am surprised at how much things costs to get done (eg. new ensuite etc). Unfortunately neither myself or partner are any good at doing DIY (we do more harm than good :)). I guess money is tight and I feel guilty spending money on 'cosmetic upgrades' but at the same time I should have a house that the kids can be proud of if bringing friends back.

I was just wondering how much do you spend on upgrading / maintaining your home each year (Also, do you set aside a budget / do you have a specific saving fund for this).

Thanks in advance
 
I heard a piece on the radio about 2-3 years ago on this and the 'expect' suggested you spend 1% of the value of your home on upkeep each year . we had just done work on our house and I remember calculating what % it was. We hadn't done anything for a few years and it was just over 1% over 4 years worth of work
 
Over the past 3 years about €10k, which is approx 1% of house value - by chance, not by intention. Main items were new boiler & oil tank, replace a few windows, improve loft insulation. We'd probably spend more on energy efficient upgrade only the potential disruption is a deterrent.
 
I think that rather than putting a value on what you should do in any given year, you should consider what you’d like to see improved in some sort of priority.

I find it’s easy to let things slide so you have to be constantly mindful of what improvements would make you happier about your home. The budget can be found one way or another for things you consider important.
 
Paint it every 5 years inside and outside. Boiler service every year, with a flush @ 5yearly intervals. If parts etc are needed for plumbing or bathroom fittings, etc, they're bought and the work done to remedy that.

Changed carpets after 10 years and sanded floors after 10 years too. This was a very good decision and maybe should have done the sanding sooner, it was oak hardwood flooring. Got the kitchen resprayed. Paid a lot of money for curtains, etc, had them properly cleaned but only once.

Had to change a patio door and had all my PVC windows, french doors and timber doors fully resealed and hinges, etc, changed. This made a big difference but amazingly nothing allowed for this in grants. Increased the attic insulation and at the moment am flooring same, got (will) a grant of €1500.00 for the insulation.

Gutters I tried to clean a few times, but when a local man was badly injured I now get a proper co to do it. There's always bit and pieces to be done outside in the garden the drive and a shed needs a coating every year.

I suppose €3k a year is easily spent if you stretch out everything as some years it's not as much but the 3k would be average enough I'd say. If you let it go, it can add up and not done creates damage and more cost. As someone once said, 2if you think insurance is expensive, try paying the bill without it".
 
ClubMan said:
Really? Not everybody can magic up money for essentials.
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It’s discretionary rather than essential expenditure. The OP feels guilty at spending money on what he describes as cosmetic upgrades but that’s his choice. it depends on what one might consider a priority.

I like to allocate some money to doing up my house because I spend so much time there. I forego other things that I might have allocated the money to instead but that’s my choice.
 
Davida said:
I feel guilty spending money on 'cosmetic upgrades' but at the same time I should have a house that the kids can be proud of if bringing friends back.
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Is that your priority? I can believe that it is for some people. But kids don't care. And many of the most homely, welcoming, and homely houses that I have been in with my son when he was a lot younger were the most shambolic, messy, and unmaintained.
 
ClubMan said:
Is that your priority? I can believe that it is for some people. But kids don't care. And many of the most homely, welcoming, and homely houses that I have been in with my son when he was a lot younger were the most shambolic, messy, and unmaintained.
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Agreed but imho older kids tend to be a bit more pass-remarkable about these things although that, by itself, is no reason to fork out good money on renovations.
 
ClubMan said:
Then adults really need to tell them what's what in my opinion.
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You can tell them but older kids/young adults still have an opinion regardless. It’s not like they can be easily kicked out anymore either.

The OP would like a house that the children would be happy be bring their friends back to. Cosmetic upgrades don’t have to cost a lot of money and if the children/young children can pitch in with ideas, labour etc so much the better.

There’s a value in keeping a property fresh.
 
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These concepts can coexist…

A family home can be lovely and entitled idiot children who comment on the appearance of their home can still be kicked up the backside…

Kids with that sort of mentality need to be reminded that they’re “neither paying nor playing” and that money doesn’t grow on trees.

Ridiculous stuff…
 
Gordon Gekko said:
These concepts can coexist…

A family home can be lovely and entitled idiot children who comment on the appearance of their home can still be kicked up the backside…

Kids with that sort of mentality need to be reminded that they’re “neither paying nor playing” and that money doesn’t grow on trees.

Ridiculous stuff…
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I think they’re still entitled to express an opinion (which is always open to challenge) without being labelled entitled idiots.
 
noproblem said:
with a flush @ 5yearly intervals
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Is this the radiators that you are referring to? We notice that ours are only half heating up at the moment even after being bled. Do all radiators need to be flushed because they are linked? We live in Blackrock in Dublin. Can you recommend someone to do the job?

We have lived in our house close to 30 years now. We had the outside professionally painted once during that time. I paint the sills, gates, and downstair door frames every two years and it still looks good but next year we will get the outside completely done. I think I was quoted €6k for this.

Our carpet on our stairs has worn away on the turn but the rest of the carpet is still good. We had a carpet fitter in to turn the carpet on the stairs but he couldn't do the turn. As a result, we have three steps with the threads bare.

Got a quote of over €300 to have our dining room curtains cleaned. Silly money really. We reckon we could nearly purchase new ones for that price. We might come back to this in 2023.

We have spent very little money on our house in 30 years. We have to decide about a new walk-in shower and a new kitchen, however getting rid of junk might be a better start. It's more about having workmen in our home for weeks on end that has stopped us doing the upgrades needed.
 
SoylentGreen said:
Is this the radiators that you are referring to? We notice that ours are only half heating up at the moment even after being bled. Do all radiators need to be flushed because they are linked? We live in Blackrock in Dublin. Can you recommend someone to do the job?

We have lived in our house close to 30 years now. We had the outside professionally painted once during that time. I paint the sills, gates, and downstair door frames every two years and it still looks good but next year we will get the outside completely done. I think I was quoted €6k for this.

Our carpet on our stairs has worn away on the turn but the rest of the carpet is still good. We had a carpet fitter in to turn the carpet on the stairs but he couldn't do the turn. As a result, we have three steps with the threads bare.

Got a quote of over €300 to have our dining room curtains cleaned. Silly money really. We reckon we could nearly purchase new ones for that price. We might come back to this in 2023.

We have spent very little money on our house in 30 years. We have to decide about a new walk-in shower and a new kitchen, however getting rid of junk might be a better start. It's more about having workmen in our home for weeks on end that has stopped us doing the upgrades needed.
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Not just the radiators, the full heating system. You might be amazed at all the "gunk" you will see that comes out and YES it stops the whole heating system from flowing around properly. Sometimes it might be better to have some family member or good friend tell you what might be a problem in your house. Terrible wear and tear like you mention but the owner is living with it so long they don't notice, awful smells from pets, this can be a bit more than some imagine, toilet smells, kitchen cookers full of yuck, cooker smell and grease on cabinets and walls, cigarette smoke and colouring everywhere, broken basins, cisterns, toilet bowls, etc. That's just a few things that left undone will lead to not so nice scenarios. Price of getting people to do anything is very high now. I find by doing it on a regular basis you get to know the tradespeople and they you. You build up a rapport and you get treated a lot better with prices etc. Just getting things done on a one off will cost a hell of a lot more I feel. What you got priced for now will not be what you'll pay next year. Trades have at last found out their value in monetary terms. You either pay up, or you'll get cowboys. Monkeys and peanuts comes to mind.
 
noproblem said:
Sometimes it might be better to have some family member or good friend tell you what might be a problem in your house. Terrible wear and tear like you mention but the owner is living with it so long they don't notice, awful smells from pets, this can be a bit more than some imagine, toilet smells, kitchen cookers full of yuck, cooker smell and grease on cabinets and walls, cigarette smoke and colouring everywhere, broken basins, cisterns, toilet bowls, etc.
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You simply must call over sometime!
 
noproblem said:
Not just the radiators, the full heating system. You might be amazed at all the "gunk" you will see that comes out and YES it stops the whole heating system from flowing around properly. Sometimes it might be better to have some family member or good friend tell you what might be a problem in your house. Terrible wear and tear like you mention but the owner is living with it so long they don't notice, awful smells from pets, this can be a bit more than some imagine, toilet smells, kitchen cookers full of yuck, cooker smell and grease on cabinets and walls, cigarette smoke and colouring everywhere, broken basins, cisterns, toilet bowls, etc. That's just a few things that left undone will lead to not so nice scenarios. Price of getting people to do anything is very high now. I find by doing it on a regular basis you get to know the tradespeople and they you. You build up a rapport and you get treated a lot better with prices etc. Just getting things done on a one off will cost a hell of a lot more I feel. What you got priced for now will not be what you'll pay next year. Trades have at last found out their value in monetary terms. You either pay up, or you'll get cowboys. Monkeys and peanuts comes to mind.
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This reminds of those ads shown on daytime tv that tug at the heart.

“… but for just €3 a month, you can replace X’s cracked toilet bowl and radiators and ensure that he can enjoy stress-free visits to the bathroom…..”
 
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