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Comment by conductr | Hacker News Reader

Anyone have luck with that default $2500 maintenance budget? My lawn guy is basically that whole budget. Any service call is $500 minimum. I’ve replaced roofs, siding, HVAC systems, water hearers, etc. Trimming my mature trees costs over $3000!

I know it’s just a placeholder but I always see an insanely low placeholder on these calculators and can’t help but think they are not properly setting expectations for prospective home buyers

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I interpret the typical advice to cover DIY materials, required service calls (e.g. plumbing issue), and occasional high-ticket items (roofs, water heaters) but not relative luxuries like paid lawn care. I guess it depends how fancy your neighborhood is, but professional lawn care is not the norm at all where I grew up.

Yes, depending on the condition of the house, and how temperamental it is. I was lucky with my last house, in 5 years of ownership only spent $6000, I took care of the lawn on my own. Roof was changed a year before I bought it so never gave me an issue and was under warranty. Water heater was a rental and was taken care by the company I was paying $20/month. After I sold the house, furnace gave up a week before the closing date so I got it fixed for $500. There was a water issue in the basement which cost $5000 to fix, but it still didn't blow the budget.

Just a datapoint, but sometimes $2500/year is a reasonable budget.

I don't spend anywhere near $2500 a year on my '53 house. I did just get a new $10k roof, though, but annualizing everything my maintenance budget is maybe $1500.

Nobody is subbing out literally everything. Most people in-house half or more of their tasks for substantial savings.

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