If you are a homeowner or own property of any kind, be sure to set aside a home emergency fund for the future. When your home is damaged by a natural disaster or some other event, you will need money for maintenance and repair. Even small issues like a leaky pipe could cost thousands of dollars if they are ignored.

In the restoration and cleaning business, we know that mold growth, flooding, fire damage, and more can cost thousands of dollars that is not always easy to come by. It is important to have money saved in case of an emergency.

What Is An Emergency Fund?

A home emergency fund is money that you save for a future emergency, such as flooding, mold growth, fire damage, and more. It can be difficult to get started if money is tight, so we recommend saving at least $1,000 for a starter emergency fund. Once your income improves, focus on building an emergency fund with up to six months of expenses.

It is important to have an emergency fund because life is unexpected, and you must be prepared. Natural disasters are dreaded emergencies, but even smaller ones like a leaky pipe or a broken HVAC system can cause serious damage. Your emergency fund will allow you to handle the financial aspects of a disaster.

Benefits of a Home Emergency Fund

There are many benefits to setting aside an emergency fund besides the obvious safety net and peace of mind.

Routine maintenance discovers minor issues that could lead to major problems in the future. If you address these issues right away, you can prevent expensive maintenance costs in the future. For example, a bit of moisture seems harmless but could cause mold growth and weaken the structure of your building.

Extra funds allow you to pay for the repair and maintenance of your property over the years. If your home is well-maintained, its value will increase, and you will be in a good position if you decide to sell the home. A well-maintained home is also more efficient, and you will likely spend less money on electricity and water.

You can even use the money in your home emergency fund to upgrade parts of your home that will improve the resale value. If you choose to sell your house, you will make money because of the upgraded appliances, cabinetry, roofing, flooring, plumbing, and more.

Finally, you will feel a sense of positivity and comfort in your home when it is being repaired and maintained regularly. Feeling safe and secure in your own home should not be underestimated.

How Much Cash Should You Have?

It is recommended to put three to six months of living expenses into your cash reserve. Your goal target should be 1% of the value of your property. However, we understand that some situations are direr than others, so start with $1,000 if you are in debt or your home is a fixer-upper.

It is also a good idea to create a general emergency fund in addition to your home emergency fund. This way, you can still pay your mortgage or rent if a natural disaster or other event has drained your repair fund. A general emergency fund is also for when life interrupts your income, such as a death in the family or sudden unemployment. It is recommended that you put 10% of your total savings in a savings account for future emergencies.

Contact Us

If you have experienced a natural disaster on your property or if a minor issue has turned into a larger problem, call a professional restoration company for service. Home emergency savings are important in this situation because you can focus on getting your home rebuilt and your own personal wellbeing rather than the financial strain of the restoration process.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.