By Marie Haaland // SWNS
New York office - 646-873-7565 / usnews@swns.com
NEWS COPY w/ VIDEO & INFOGRAPHIC
More than four in 10 homeowners have experienced damage to their home from drastic weather changes in the fall and winter, according to new research.
The survey of 2,000 homeowners found that extreme weather has caused issues for 45 percent of homeowners – and the cost of fixing their properties adds up.
The average cost per year for those who experience weather-related damage is $3,497.
Homeowners surveyed have lived in their current house for an average of eight years, which means repair costs could add up to nearly $30K.
With that price tag and upcoming weather changes in fall and winter, it seems homeowners would be doing what they can to prepare – but that might not be the case.
Commissioned by Owens Corning Roofing and conducted by OnePoll in advance of National Preparedness Month, the survey found that a surprising 56 percent of homeowners admit to taking an “ignorance is bliss” approach to home repairs and changing weather.
Of the 87 percent of homeowners who have experienced an issue, they currently have an average of three issues. The top issues respondents have faced in their homes include pests (such as mice/rats, termites and carpenter ants), drafty doors/windows and leaky roofs.
Fifty-one percent of those who’ve had an issue in their house say changing weather in the fall and winter was the catalyst – with those in the West and the Northeast most likely to agree (64 percent, each).
Even then, 38 percent of homeowners aren’t planning to take any steps to prepare their home for the changing weather during the fall and winter months.
“Preparing in advance for seasonal weather changes is key to helping eliminate repairs that may arise,” said Jason Lewinski, Marketing Leader at Owens Corning. “We strongly encourage routine inspections to help identify any issues leading into the changing weather.”
For those who are planning to prepare their home (62 percent), over half (59 percent) have already conducted a roof check, while others have cleaned out the gutters to prevent ice dams (58 percent) or caulked around the windows and installed weather stripping for doors (57 percent).
But that might not be enough, as homeowners are not likely to contact a professional on a regular basis. The survey found that on average it’s been three years since homeowners have had a professional look at their home.
“While hiring a professional might sound expensive, it will save you in the long run from unexpected damage that can add up quick,” continued Lewinski. “Programs like Owens Corning Roofing Platinum Preferred Contractor Network can give you the peace of mind that trusted local experts, backed by a major national manufacturer, are available to help and do great work.”
TOP ISSUES AMERICANS HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THEIR HOME
Mice/rats 35 percent
Termites 34 percent
Carpenter ants 33 percent
Drafty doors/windows 28 percent
Leaky roofs 25 percent
Flooded basement 25 percent
Other animal infestations 23 percent
Faulty air conditioning 21 percent
Faulty wiring 20 percent
Burst pipes 20 percent
Regions were defined as:
Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington D.C.
Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia
Southwest: Arkansas, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas
Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin
West: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming
