What a home maintenance plan costs in Columbus

Short answer: it depends on how often someone comes, how much house and equipment you have, and what is actually included. Here is how to think about it, plus exactly how I price mine.

What drives the price

• How often someone shows up. Quarterly, monthly, or once a year makes a big difference.
• How much house there is. More bathrooms, more furnaces and AC systems, and more water heaters mean more to check every visit.
• Special equipment. A sump pump, a well and pressure tank, or a whole house humidifier all add to the list.
• What is included. Filters, leak sensors, written records, and repair time vary a lot from plan to plan.
• Setup. Some plans charge for a first visit that gets the house documented and equipped.
• Who does the work. One person who learns your house, or whoever is on the schedule that day.

The common ways it is priced

Monthly plans

A lot of home maintenance plans run $99 a month or more. That comes to about $1,188 a year or more. Some of them include more visits or a set amount of repair time, so they can be worth it. Read what is actually covered.

A handyman by the hour

Great for a list of fixes. The catch is that you have to know what needs doing, remember to call, and keep track of it yourself.

One time seasonal visits

A single visit before winter, like a freeze prep, covers the season that does the most damage. It doesn't build a history of your house, but it is a good way to try someone out.

What 1614 Home Co. costs

• Founding Membership: from $699 for year one, limited to the first 25 homes. Regular base membership is from $799 a year.
• One time setup: from $199. That covers a leak sensor hub and your first four sensors, a walkthrough of your home, tags on your main shutoffs, and a baseline Home Record.
• What base pricing covers: homes with up to 3 bathrooms, 1 HVAC system, and 1 water heater. Half baths count. So a house with two full baths and a half bath, one furnace, and one water heater is at base pricing.
• Bigger homes: extra bathrooms, additional HVAC systems, or a second water heater each add a small flat yearly amount. You see the exact number in your quote before you commit.
• Homes on a well: a well and pressure tank get a custom look before I quote.
• Fall Freeze Prep: $129 for a one time fall visit. Join within 30 days and the $129 comes off your first year.

Every membership is four visits a year: HVAC filter replacement for covered systems, a leak sensor check with a wet test on the water heater and sump sensors, a sump pump check, smoke and CO alarm checks, one seasonal task, and a Home Record update with dated photos. Same person every visit, and that person is me.

What it doesn't include: repairs. If I find something that needs a licensed plumber, electrician, or HVAC tech, I tell you and you choose who to call.

Questions to ask any provider

1. How many visits a year, and what gets done at each one?
2. Are filters and other materials included?
3. Will it be the same person every time?
4. Do I get a written record I can keep?
5. What does it cost for my house, not a base house?
6. What happens if I want to stop?

Is it worth it?

If you already change your filters, test your sump, and winterize on schedule every year, you might not need a plan. Most people mean to and don't, and the expensive problems in Columbus houses usually start with water: a water heater, a sump that quit, or an outside faucet that froze. A plan is worth it if it keeps those from sneaking up on you.