Simple home maintenance checks that can save you thousands

Owning a home in South Africa comes with ongoing wear and tear that can affect the overall value and safety of your home over time. While not every issue can be prevented, regular care and maintenance play a crucial role in avoiding and reducing damage.

Many expensive home repairs start with small problems that were easy to fix, but were unfortunately left for too long. Keeping your home well-maintained not only protects its value but also helps make sure your home insurance will honour your claim within the T&Cs of your policy when you need it the most.

South Africa’s weather is one of the biggest reasons homes get damaged. Storms, flooding, hail, fires, and strong winds lead to thousands of insurance claims every year. SAIA (South African Insurance Association) has even urged the importance of climate resilience and insurance collaboration, with the two going hand in hand to combat potential claims disasters. Underinsurance remains a risk here, with one in three homes in South Africa being underinsured.

The roof is usually the first part of a home to take strain. Broken tiles, corrugated roofs with rusted screws, and blocked gutters allow rainfall to enter, which causes damage to ceilings, walls, and even the foundation of your house if it is not dealt with quickly and properly. What makes water damage so expensive is that it often spreads before it is noticed.

Regular roof and gutter checks year-round can prevent this kind of damage. Fixing small issues early is way cheaper than dealing with major repairs after a storm. Ultimately, planned maintenance costs less than emergency roof repairs caused by severe weather. Planned maintenance is also crucial to ensure smooth claims processes. Proactivity is key.

Some of the most serious home damage happens out of sight. Geysers, pipes, and electrical systems work hard every day and can fail without warning, especially in older homes or during colder months and electricity interruptions.

Burst geysers and leaking pipes are among the most common causes of household damage in South Africa. These problems can affect ceilings, walls, and floors, which leads to high repair costs and disruption to daily living. Approximately 10,000 geysers burst every month, and the repairs on these are costly.

Electrical systems also need attention. Power surges caused by lightning or an unstable supply can damage appliances, and even in some cases, increase the risk of fire if wiring is not in good condition. Regular inspections and checks, including that of water pipes and geysers, and a signed certificate of compliance by registered professionals, can help reduce these risks.

Maintenance also matters when it comes to insurance. The National Financial Ombud Scheme noted that gradual deterioration, lack of maintenance, or wear and tear acted as the primary reason for homeowners’ rejected insurance claims, with a 7% increase in such complaints since 2023.

“Home insurance is there to help when something sudden and unexpected happens, not when damage builds up over time,” says John Wessels, Executive: Product and Analytics, BetterSure Financial Consultants. “Regular maintenance helps homeowners avoid major problems and ensures their insurance cover works as it should,” continues Wessels.

Home insurance generally covers the permanent structures and fixtures of your property, such as the main building, outbuildings, garages, built-in cupboards, fixed security systems, and boundary walls against unexpected events. Claims are usually not valid for pre-existing damage, normal wear and tear, lack of maintenance, poor workmanship, or damage caused by pests or domestic animals. Understanding these exclusions helps homeowners avoid surprises when claiming and ensures their cover works as intended.

Looking after your home doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. Property experts often suggest setting aside at least one percent of a home’s value each year for maintenance, depending on the age of the home and its condition. Planning for these costs makes it easier to deal with repairs before they become emergencies.

According to BetterSure’s claims records, the statistics relating to the reason for claims being submitted are quite diverse, with claims coming in for a variety of reasons. The majority of claims relate to storm damage (including flooding, hail, and lightning), with 34% of claims payouts resulting from storm damage. Geysers and resultant damage account for 32% of claim payouts, and pipes and plumbing 19%. Theft, fire, and accidental damage also contribute significantly to claims payouts. Although fire accounts for 0.6% of the number of claims, the payouts account for 4% of the total due to the large amount of damage resulting from fire claims.

In the end, a well-maintained home is safer, more comfortable, and better prepared for extreme weather or other external risks. Ultimately, your home is 80% of your family’s wealth, and for South African homeowners, regular maintenance is one of the smartest ways to protect both your home and your finances, and help the overall value of your home grow.