This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

Homeownership comes with its routine challenges — from leaky pipes to weekly landscaping to broken appliances. While ignoring these problems or delaying fixes to a more convenient time may sound tempting, the cost of not maintaining your home is often pricier than you think.

Fortunately Thumbtack, a home services app used by millions, makes it easy to find and hire local professionals to help you maintain and fix every corner of your home. Keep reading to find out how much not maintaining your home can really cost you, and why routine maintenance is the best defense against costly emergency repairs.

According to research performed by Thumbtack, 68 percent of homeowners report feeling overwhelmed, confused or stressed about maintaining their homes, and 64 percent said they would feel better prepared with a personalized owner’s manual for their home. Furthermore, over half of homeowners surveyed in the study say their regrets stemmed from not budgeting for repairs and maintenance.

As stressful as figuring out how to take care of your house is, delaying repairs and maintenance can also mean a lower home value when it comes time to sell your property. Thumbtack’s research with OJO* found that a well-maintained home sells for 10 percent more than a home in average condition, amounting to a national average increase of $44,000. Homeowners with well-maintained homes in popular metropolitan areas will see an even larger increase when compared to average-condition homes — up to $130,000.

By national standards, the average cost of essential home maintenance for a home’s central air, water heater, refrigerator, roof and appliances is $1,347 a year, according to Thumbtack’s research. If these essential components are not well-maintained and all break down at once, a homeowner could face a $29,000 bill (on average) to repair or replace them.

Not only does home maintenance save money, but it also saves you energy expended stressing about home issues. The frustration and anxiety of having your fridge break before a family gathering, a roof leak at the beginning of spring or a furnace failure as temperatures start to dip often gets compounded by the worry of how to afford a repair.

Tackling these seasonal maintenance tasks with the help of a top-rated professional will keep your residence comfortable all year long. Here’s a season-by-season guide on what to take care of and when.

Fall Get ready for cooler temperatures and house guests in the fall with preventative home maintenance.

Winter In the winter, focus on interior projects to avoid colder temperatures and prep for holiday guests.

Spring Spring signals a refresh both inside and outside the home. Focus on repairing damage from winter weather and prepping the yard for outdoor living.

Summer Homeowners may enjoy outdoor living in the summer months, meaning exterior home maintenance is all the more important.

Thumbtack can connect you with top-rated local professionals for pretty much any home-related task, but if you really want peace of mind when it comes to ongoing home maintenance, Thumbtack Plus is the way to go. With Thumbtack’s membership program, you can ask a home specialist questions about your home or an upcoming project. They'll follow-up with an action plan that keeps you on track, on budget and set up for success.

Thumbtack Plus members also enjoy include a $10,000 money-back guarantee, a $100,000 Property-Damage Guarantee for property damage by hired professionals, 20 percent off** on-demand bookings and support from home specialists. See Thumbtack Plus Guarantee Terms here.

*Survey Methodology: Thumbtack conducted a survey of the general population from 3/7/2022 to 3/10/2022 of 1,720 U.S. adults aged 18 or higher balanced by age and gender according to U.S. Census estimates. Results have a margin of error of +/- 2.4%. New homeowners are defined as homeowners who purchased their home in the past two years.

OJO Methodology: A survey of professional realtors was conducted by OJO from 4/20/2022–5/2/2022. 1068 responses were received. Respondents were asked to provide a response to the sales premium that a well maintained home receives rounded to the nearest percentage point. The median value is reported in the analysis.

Pricing data for maintenance and replacement costs is based on platform data from projects requested on Thumbtack over the past 24 months as reported directly by the independent service professional or individual consumer. Essential components of the home include: central air, heat pump, water heater, roof, gutters, siding, deck, refrigerator, range/oven, and dishwasher. A survey of Thumbtack pros was conducted from 3/25/2022–3/31/2022 to determine the average lifespan of each component, how many years proper maintenance extends to the lifespan, and how many years a lack of maintenance subtracts from the lifespan.

**Thumbtack On-Demand bookings are limited to some categories and are subject to change. Learn more.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.