Home Neglect - What Can Happen?

The roof is twenty years old and rapidly deteriorating. The weeds are growing and the trees desperately need trimmed. And the backyard has always had terrible drainage. But, with the economy rapidly declining, spending money right now is a scary prospect. Waiting couldn't possibly hurt, right?

Wrong! Your house is your biggest investment, and more importantly, it is your home. This is where you are raising your family and making memories of a lifetime. Even if the market is in the shambles, neglecting your home is the biggest mistake you can make. Not only is pride of ownership and providing a nice, secure place for your family to live important, home neglect is far more costly than making the necessary repairs.

New roofs are expensive, but consider the cost of replacing all of your carpets and replacing many of your belongings should your roof fail to keep the rains out. Now, not only will you still need to replace the roof, you will also need to deal with the water damage caused by failing to act earlier. And, if you're thinking the insurance company will bail you out, think again. Insurance does not pay for water damage due to neglect. If a tornado blows off your roof, then yes, the insurance company will be involved. But if your roof leaks simply because you failed to maintain it, you're on your own.

What about those weeds and trees? Can you let those go? No. Overgrown trees can clog raingutters which can back up, diverting water into your home, perhaps where you can't see it. Next thing you know, you have an uninvited guest infiltrating your walls: mold. Weeds against the foundation can cause similar problems. Plus, when the weeds dry out, they become the perfect kindling for house fires. To make matters worse, rodents, such as mice and rats, may take up residence. They'll have a nice warm nest and easy access to your home where they'll raid your cabinets and chew your wires.

The poorly draining backyard is also a problem. Not only does standing water provide a breeding ground for pests such as mosquitoes, it can also seep into your basement, causing flooding or mold growth as well as undermine foundations. Cracked patios are ugly while cracked foundations are expensive to repair. Standing water against your home also leads to algae and mold growth. While exterior algae is unsightly, mold can grow inside your walls, quietly thriving while also contributing to inhabitants' respiratory ailments.

Maintaining your home is a part of home ownership and it should not be put off. If your roof needs to be replaced, no amount of denial is going to change that fact. Contact a reliable roofer and find out what's involved. If money is tight, less expensive options may be available. If your trees need trimmed, hire a tree company to trim them. If your backyard doesn't drain properly, call a landscaping company or hire a backhoe operator to regard the yard. Maintain your house now and you will avoid countless problems later.

Autor: Mark Decherd Mark Decherd
Level: Platinum
Dryout Inc. was incorporated in 1997 with a mission to serve waterlogged customers in south Florida. We specialize in water damage, mold remediation, and flood ... ...

By: Mr. Mark Decherd

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Dryout Inc.
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Added: April 20, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/