A simple rule many homeowners use is to set aside about 1–2% of the home’s value per year for maintenance and small improvements. So if your home is worth $200,000, that’s roughly $2,000–$4,000 a year. This includes small repairs, servicing, repainting when needed, minor upgrades and emergency fixes.
Of course, not everyone can match that ideal number, and in some markets it may feel high. But the idea is to treat maintenance as a regular cost of owning a home, not a surprise. If you spend nothing for years, things don’t stay “free”; they quietly wear out and then hit you all at once.
If money is tight, even a smaller fixed amount is helpful. For example, deciding, “I’ll keep $50–$100 per month only for house-related stuff,” already puts you ahead of people who do nothing. The main point: if you plan some budget for maintenance every year, your home ages much more gracefully and big breakdowns become less frequent.
