Simple Upgrades That HGTV Home Inspector Says Could Save You Thousands of Dollars Down the Line

When it comes to homeownership, there's a lot to know before you even put an initial offer in on a house. One of the first things? Make sure not to pass on the home inspection. Joe Mazza from HGTV's "Home Inspector Joe" shares some simple upgrades all homeowners should make now that could save thousands of dollars down the line. And they're easy enough to do yourself. 

1.  Save Your Foundation From Water Damage With This Simple & Inexpensive Fix 

You want to make sure your gutters don't end right at the wall of your home or empty out onto the roof. This can lead to major damage and flooding. Instead, you want the water pushed out about four to five feet from the foundation. The fix is as simple as buying an extension—you can find these for as little as $10, or you can get fancy and make design features out of it. In the long run, that 10 bucks can save you thousands in damage.  

"And this is something that anybody can do," says Joe.  

2. Skip Replacing Your Entire Deck or Porch With This DIY Approach 

People think if they see some rotted wood on a deck or porch, they have to replace the whole thing, which can cost thousands and thousands of dollars. "But, really this is something that any homeowner can check for and can fix themselves." says Joe. In fact, you can simply saw off the pieces that are worn and rotting and replace those. To test if wood is rotted, just tap a screwdriver over the rotting wood. If it goes through it, you need to replace that area ASAP!  

Joe recommends using pressure treated wood or composite wood, then you can apply waterproof paint or stain to match the rest of your deck and this will let it last for a long time. 

3. Make Sure Your Banister Spindles Are Spaced Properly to Avoid Accidents (and expensive trips to the ER) 

"The banister spacing should always be about four inches apart—you always want the banister spacing to be four inches or less," explains Joe. And the reason for this? To avoid little kids or pets getting stuck or falling through if the banister spindles are spaced wider. There is no question that this safety concern should be a top priority when it comes to home upgrades.  

Depending on your skill level and the design of your banister, you may be able to DIY this, or you may need to bring in a pro. This one can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, but better spent here than in the ER!