Retirement is finally the stage wherein you can comfortably relax in the corner of your house without having to worry about submitting reports in the office. While such is the case, recent data reveals that majority of retirees do not have enough money for unexpected expenses, including home maintenance costs.
Recent research from the Society of Actuaries on a study conducted on groups of retirees 15 years or more has shown that very few people tend to prepare for unexpected costs during their retirement, Realtor.com reported. The study revealed that 20 percent of retirees could not allot $1,000 for unexpected expenses.
Ten percent were found to be able to spend $1,000 to $4,999 on unexpected costs, 11 percent can spend $5,000 to $9,999 and 12 percent can spend $10,000 to $24,999. About 29 percent of the respondents, however, shared that they could afford to spend more than $25,000 on unexpected costs.
The publication noted that most people are aware of the fact that there will be issues surfacing in homes down the road, but very few are still prepared for the unexpected costs. The data also somewhat backs this claim, as the publication noted that a simple replacement of the roof starts at $20,000.
"There are a lot of things that can spiral out of control when [the home] is not maintained over the years," said Cindy Levering from the Committee on Post Retirement Needs and Risks.
In order for retirees to prepare for these aforementioned unexpected expenses, the publication stated that retirees may save up 2 percent of their annual budget for the home's maintenance.
Retirees can also anticipate for possible problems and issues with other components of a home by using the report from the National Association of Home Builders.
According to the report, "the life expectancies of certain components of a home depend on the quality of installation, the level of maintenance, weather and climate conditions, and the intensity of use."