The first step to getting free or discounted home repairs is to know what programs are available to you. These include scholarships and loans, and grants are generally reserved for the elderly, the disabled, and people below a certain income threshold. This is not an exhaustive list, as many communities offer local programs. If you need free or discounted home repairs, be sure to do your research to see what’s available locally, and seek help through one or more of the programs listed below.
With that in mind, here are some of the home repair assistance programs that might be good to start with. It’s important to find a good contractor to perform repairs and improvements to your home. Before hiring a contractor, get advice from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on how to avoid home improvement scams. Also, find out how you can report a problem if you have any problems with the work you’ve done at home.
Home improvement services that include painting, drywall repair, floor installation, electricity, plumbing and more. If you plan to repair or renovate your home, government programs can make it easier for you to pay for those home improvements. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a special loan option for veterans who need funds to renovate or repair their homes. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) encourages private lenders to offer home improvement loans for small and large repairs.
Local religious organizations may also be available to offer charitable assistance for home repairs. Read on to learn about programs that exist to offer free or discounted home repairs to American homeowners, and to see if you might qualify for assistance if they need it. There are always options available when you need to finance home repairs, but you don’t have the cash in the bank. Everything from regularly replacing boiler filters to finding and sealing any leaking pipes can make a big difference in overall repair costs, and could make the difference between spending a couple of hundred dollars over the course of the mortgage or spending thousands of dollars at a time on a major repair.
Grants are also available, although only for elderly applicants who need free home repairs to eliminate a health or safety hazard. Federal home improvement loan programs and local and national nonprofit agencies offer free or discounted home repairs to those who qualify, as well as fixed-interest loans at low rates that can help fill gaps. However, these loans differ from standard VA loans in that they are specifically designed for home repairs and renovations and cannot be used to purchase homes. See below for the latest special offers on American Home Shield home warranty guarantees and discounts.
In addition to offering cash loans and grants for home repairs and renovations, you can also find specific incentives to make energy efficient improvements to your home (such as installing solar panels) or discover possible tax credits for the changes you make.
