Putting Off Even Small Home Repairs Could Cost Homeowners Nearly $2K More Today

In a perfect world, homeowners would tackle repairs as soon as issues arise. The reality, however, is that most put them off.In fact, the recent "Home Oops" report from Angi found that 30% of respondents knowingly delayed a repair that worsened. And among those who did, 83% paid more than they would have if they addressed it promptly, with an average additional cost of $1,645.“In my experience, most people postpone home repairs because they’re simply unaware of them or don't realize that they're getting worse,” says Rafi Friedman, CEO of Coastal Luxury Outdoors in Jacksonville, FL. It's also becoming more common for homeowners to delay repairs for financial reasons. “Inflation is up, and it's hit the construction and home improvement sector especially hard,” Friedman adds.If you can’t afford a home repair right away, don't panic. There are steps you can take to manage costs and prevent the issue from worsening.The price of delaying repairsWhen you’re juggling other essential expenses, like your mortgage, groceries, gas, and utilities, it’s easy to push a home repair to the bottom of the list. The challenge, however, is knowing which issues can safely wait and which ones need immedi...