With all the rapture about interest rate cuts – now equalling 0.75 per cent over the last two months – spare a thought for older Australians.
Already a third of over 50s say they can’t afford their home repair bills, according to a national survey, and with every dent to their savings, things get worse.
Australia’s over 50s are facing a combined repair bill of $5.57 billion to fix more than 17 million defects in their homes.
The most common issues reported in research by insurance provider Apia were leaking taps (41%), trees that need to be trimmed for safety reasons (39%), cracks in walls (38%), insect or vermin infestations (33%), and blocked drains (27%). Nearly half (43%) of the survey’s respondents said they didn’t have the skills to fix the problems around their home.
For readers in the US and Canada there are non-profit groups that may be able help. Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for questions. Don’t forget Habitat for Humanity, local churches and senior centers!
read more at: http://smh.domain.com.au/blogs/talking-property/seniors-struggling-to-maintain-homes-20120605-1ztik.html
Green Real Estate Appraiser 