Homebuyers money-saving hacks—overlooking these defects in summer could cost you £30,000 in winter

Homebuyers' money-saving hacks are ten a penny these days but when it all comes down to it, there are a few particularly vital considerations to be made when purchasing a home. 

Although trying to save money is a challenge faced by most people, one concern the whole of the UK shares is wondering how to save on energy bills during the energy crisis.

One of life's most important and daunting purchases is a home. Whether you're the bank of mum and dad helping your kids get on the property ladder, or perhaps thinking about upgrading your portfolio—there are many considerations to be made.

Buying a new house is expensive enough without having to make space for costly, unexpected repairs. Unfortunately, if you buy a house in the summer, there's a chance that unwanted surprises may make themselves known in the winter months when bad weather sets in.

Winter's brutally old temperatures, heavy rain, storms, and snow all put your home to the test. Tests that you may not have considered when the sun was shining.

Speaking to woman&home, Toolstation reveals the warning signs you should look out for when viewing properties in the summer, paying special attention to these five things will help you prepare for later in the year and save you up to £30,000 or even more.

Leaky roof—up to £15,000

In the drier summer months, it can be difficult to detect a leaky roof. However, in the lashing winter rain, you’ll wish you’d checked the condition of the roof.

The causes of a leaky roof can be varied, and solutions range from relatively low-cost fixes like unclogging gutters, to eye-watering structural repairs.

Removing and replacing a hip roof could cost more than £15,000. Luckily, there are lots of warning signs that you can look out for and hopefully avoid any unexpected costs. 

Warning signs to look for:

Faulty boiler—up to £12,000

Do your due diligence when surveying the boiler, as this is one item that will get a lot of use in the winter months.

Boilers always break down at the worst possible moment and nobody wants to end up without any heating or hot water in mid-January.

Most boilers have a lifespan of around 10-15 years, but things can go wrong. The cost of buying and installing a new boiler is likely to be around £4,000 – even more if you want to relocate it.

You’re looking at around £12,000 if you want to invest in a biomass boiler which, although much more economical in the long run, has a higher upfront cost.

Damaged guttering—up to £1,500

Guttering is used to direct rainwater away from the base of the building, protecting the foundation, and is essential for your home’s structural wellbeing.

In winter, when the UK gets up to 100mm of rain each month, it’s essential your gutters do this vital job effectively.

The cost of replacing guttering varies significantly dependent on the size of your property, but you’re likely to spend approximately £700 per 15 meters. However, this could more than double if you want to upgrade to more durable cast iron gutters.

Warning signs to look for:

Draughty windows—up to £1,000 per window

Ill-fitting windows are something you won’t usually notice until you move in. Even with the best blankets, heating full blast, and all your cozy clothes on—if your windows need replacing, you'll really feel the brunt of the colder weather.

Unfortunately, issues such as damp and water damage will quickly become apparent in the winter, and even just one draughty window can have a huge impact on the energy efficiency of your home.

Replacing just one double-glazed uPVC window will set you back around £730. Of course, this price will be even higher if you have sash windows or want wood or aluminium frames. Generally, if one window is faulty, it’s likely others will be too.

Warning signs to look for:

Poorly insulated attic—up to £600

One of the most essential elements in keeping your m=home warm, attic insulation prevents heat from being lost from the roof of your home. An insufficiently insulated attic can be a serious money pit, especially in winter when temperatures plummet.

There are multiple options when it comes to insulating your roof space from loose fill to spray foam and from blanket insulation to thermal foil.

Insulating a detached house with blanket insulation can cost upwards of £600, including labor.

Warning signs to look for: