What is Home Maintenance Score?
A home maintenance score assesses the overall condition and upkeep of a property across 10 critical areas: HVAC, plumbing, electrics, roof, gutters, pest control, fire safety, appliances, exterior, and seasonal maintenance habits.
The Formula
Maintenance Score = Sum of (Category Score) across 10 areas, each rated 0-10
Each category is scored independently. Total is out of 100. Higher scores indicate proactive maintenance habits.
Worked Example
A homeowner completes the assessment for a 20-year-old detached house.
- HVAC: Serviced within 6 months (10/10)
- Plumbing: One slow drain (3/10)
- Electrics: Inspected within 5 years (7/10)
- Roof: Not inspected recently, some wear (3/10)
- Gutters: Cleaned once a year (7/10)
- Pest control: No issues (7/10)
- Fire safety: Detectors on all floors, not tested (7/10)
- Appliances: 10-15 years old (3/10)
- Exterior: Good condition with minor issues (7/10)
- Seasonal: Informal checks only (7/10)
📌 Total score: 61/100, above the 38 average but with clear weakness in plumbing, roof, and appliances. Addressing the roof inspection is highest priority to prevent expensive water damage.
Why This Matters
Cost Prevention
Proactive maintenance costs 1/5th of emergency repairs. A $150 annual HVAC tune-up prevents a $5,000 replacement. A $300 roof inspection prevents $10,000 in water damage.
Property Value
Well-maintained homes sell for 10-15% more than neglected equivalents. Buyers and inspectors identify maintenance deficits quickly during the sales process.
Safety
Faulty wiring, missing smoke detectors, and HVAC issues are safety hazards. Regular maintenance protects your family and meets landlord legal obligations.
Common Mistakes
❌ Only fixing things when they break
Reactive maintenance costs 3-5x more than preventive maintenance. An annual checklist prevents the most expensive emergency repairs.
❌ Ignoring the roof and gutters
Roof and gutter problems are invisible until water damage appears. By then, structural repair costs $5,000-20,000. Inspect annually.
❌ Skipping electrical inspections
Old wiring is a leading cause of house fires. Properties over 25 years old should have a professional electrical inspection.
Industry Benchmarks
| Category | Good | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Homeowner Average | 70-100 | 35-70 | Below 35 |
| Annual Maintenance Spend | 1-2% of property value | 0.5-1% | Below 0.5% |
| Emergency Repair Frequency | Under 1 per year | 1-2 per year | 3+ per year |
Source: NAR and ASHI Home Inspection Data
Benchmark data sourced from NAR and ASHI Home Inspection Data.