There are so many factors to consider when deciding where to buy a home: The neighborhood, public transit options, school districts, cultural offerings, weather, proximity to family (whether you prefer them far away or nearby)—the list goes on. And then, of course, there’s the financial side of things, like the price of the homes in the area, and the overall cost of living.
But there’s another cost to consider that people may overlook: The cost of maintaining a house. As nice as it would be if our home existed in some sort of invisible bubble that protected it from the elements, accidents, and normal wear-and-tear, those things are going to happen—which means, your home will require regular maintenance.
And like houses themselves, the costs of the necessary services and materials vary depending on your location. Here are the most expensive states for home maintenance.
The most expensive states for home maintenance
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Before we get into which states made the list, let’s talk about how they got there. The states below were determined to be the most expensive for home maintenance in a survey conducted by Angi (formerly Angie’s List), which asked 1,000 homeowners about their most recent home repairs (where they hired a professional—not DIY jobs), then calculated the total dollar amount spent on services in each state based on their average home repair costs.
According to the survey, the top-10 most expensive states for home maintenance are:
- Texas
- Florida
- California
- Illinois
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- Missouri
This infographic provides more detailed information:
Out of the most expensive states for home maintenance, 53% of Ohioans reported that wear-and-tear was the most common reason for their home repairs—more than any other state. Missouri and North Carolina are next, with 47% of their repairs caused by simply living in a home over an extended period of time.