Maintenance Responsibilities in a Townhouse vs. Single-Family Home
You’ve decided it’s time to move on up to a home that’s yours. But do you go for a townhouse vs a single-family home? They both have their perks, but maintenance is a big factor. Townhouses can seem low-maintenance with some responsibilities covered by the HOA. But they come with their maintenance. Single-family homes put it all on your shoulders, but you get to call the shots. Ready to dig into the nitty gritty of mowing, painting, roofing, and more? Let’s break down who handles repairs and replacements so you pick the home with maintenance you can handle.
Common Areas Are Maintained for You in a Townhouse
When it comes to home maintenance, a townhouse usually requires a lot less work than a single-family home. Exterior maintenance is often handled by an HOA in a townhouse, so you don’t have to worry about mowing the lawn, raking leaves, or shoveling snow. The HOA typically takes care of exterior painting, roof repairs, and siding issues as well.
With a single-family home, all of these responsibilities fall on you. You’ll need to budget time and money for mowing, landscaping, painting, roof repairs, and any other issues that come up. Unless you pay for a lawn service, you can expect to spend at least a couple of hours a week on yard work during the spring and summer.
Inside the home, townhouses also tend to require less maintenance. Since the units share walls, you only have to worry about decorating and cleaning the interior of your unit. The HOA is responsible for any shared areas like entryways, halls, and recreation rooms.
In contrast, with a single-family home, you’re solely responsible for all interior cleaning, decorating, and repairs. This includes everything from vacuuming and dusting to fixing leaky faucets, repairing drywall damage, and replacing worn-out flooring or appliances.
While a townhouse may have less space and less privacy, the reduced maintenance responsibilities can be appealing. For many homeowners, less time spent on chores means more time enjoying life. If low-maintenance living sounds good to you, a townhouse could be the perfect choice.
Who Takes Care of the Yard – You or the HOA?
One of the biggest benefits of townhouse living is that you don’t have to worry about exterior maintenance responsibilities. The homeowners association takes care of mowing the lawn, raking leaves, shoveling snow, and general upkeep of the common areas. Say goodbye to hours spent every weekend on yardwork and hello to more leisure time.
With a single-family home, you’re solely responsible for all maintenance of the entire property. From cleaning gutters to repairing the roof, all financial and time costs fall directly on your shoulders. As townhouses are attached units, the responsibility for structural elements and exterior components like roofs, foundations, and siding are shared with the HOA. You’ll only need to handle the interior and any private outdoor space like a patio or balcony.
Not having to worry about time-consuming and expensive exterior maintenance is a load for many homeowners. The predictable HOA fees also make budgeting easier since you won’t face surprise costs for a new furnace or leaky roof. The minimal responsibility of a townhouse provides more stability and less stress. You can enjoy your home without constantly worrying about what needs fixing or replacing next.
For those less inclined towards DIY home repair projects, a townhouse is ideal. You can benefit from living in an owned property without having to become an expert in plumbing, electrical work, or re-shingling a roof. Leave all that to the professionals hired by your homeowner’s association. Sit back, relax, and let someone else handle the heavy lifting when it comes to keeping your townhouse community in tip-top shape.
Source: Explore
