By Kara Masterson
While there is no shortage of upkeep and maintenance-related tasks that property owners must deal with, not all tasks are created equal. Knowing which of these concerns to prioritize and which tasks can be put off until later is not something that homeowners should leave to chance.
Featured: Sinking, Sagging and Other Signs Your Home Has Serious Foundation Issues
When it comes to maintaining your home’s foundation, routine inspection and prompt repair of any damages can make a world of difference. Here's why:
Protect Your Property Value
A well-maintained home or investment property can be a significant financial asset capable of providing superior returns and a greater degree of financial security for decades to come. Issues with your home’s foundation can lead to problems with flooding, water damage or even undermine the structural integrity of the home itself. Many prospective buyers see issues with a home’s foundation as a red flag, one that has the potential to significantly reduce the market value of a home. Taking steps to protect your home’s foundation may prove to be well worth the time, expense and effort involved.
Minimize Repair and Maintenance Costs
When left unaddressed, small problems can grow into much larger and more serious issues. Contacting foundation repair contractors and arranging for repairs and other maintenance services at the first sign of trouble will help to minimize the total repair costs involved. Taking action early on also reduces the risk of flooding, water damage or other situations that could end up placing additional strain on your household finances.
Preventing Structural Damage
Interior flooding and water damage aren’t the only problems that may be caused by a damaged foundation. A sound foundation is essential for ensuring that the structural integrity of the home itself is not undermined. Ignoring problems with the foundation could lead to problems like cracked drywall, uneven floors or other structural issues that can only be addressed with major construction or renovation efforts. Cracks in your home’s foundation may prove to be a relatively simple and cost-effective problem to address, especially when you consider the alternative.
Good foundation repair is essential for ensuring that your home or investment property remains in the best condition possible. Even seemingly trivial issues with your foundation have the potential to negatively impact that market value of the property, increase the risk of flooding or damage to interior areas or undermine the structural integrity. Routine foundation inspection and assessment, as well as prompt repairs should a problem be discovered, could end up saving you more than you might expect.
Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max. Masterson recommends working with professional foundation repair contractors to assess and address foundation damage.
