The Burrow
May 7, 2025
Whether you own or rent your property, you’ve likely encountered the frustrations of something going wrong and having to get it fixed – something small like a faulty lock or blocked drainpipe, through to something significant like a damp problem or electrical rewiring.
If you’re buying a property, hidden issues can arise that can cost you a lot financially, such as rendering or underpinning. Interestingly, research conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that home ownership has decreased among the generations in Australia, with just 55% of millennials owning their own homes, compared to 66% of boomers when they were the same age – potentially partly because of hidden costs that have arisen during the home buying process.1
As experts in understanding how comparing and refinancing home loans can put you in a position to cover the cost of larger home repairs, we wanted to analyse various maintenance jobs to see which cost Australians and Americans the most money and the most stressful ones.
Here’s what we found.
With an average price of AU$20,000, underpinning is officially the most expensive job and is a hugely important task for houses with weakened foundations caused by subsidence – however, it can typically range from anywhere between AU$5,000-$35,000.
The second most expensive maintenance fee in Australia is rendering, coming in at an average of AU$14,814 – though this varies depending on materials and size of the home. Concrete and lime renders tend to be cheaper, at around AU$30-$50 per square metre, with acrylic and insulating renders on the more expensive side.
Expect fixing damp issues to cost you around AU$7,500, with severe cases stretching to AU$30,000 and minor treatments just a few hundred dollars. The average cost for electrical rewiring is AU$7,000, but this varies depending on how many rooms you have. Two bedrooms can be between AU$2,000-$5,000, whereas a four-bed home could be anything up to AU$12,000.
At AU$6,250, HVAC replacement comes in fifth place for costs, followed by plastering, a leaky roof, and painting.
At the other end of the spectrum, faulty door locks, appliance repairs, and plumbing problems are expected to cost the least at an average cost of between AU$233-$340, but again, it’s dependent on how much work is involved.
It’s not just money that repairs can drain; it can have a detrimental impact on your mental health, too. We analysed the effect each repair would have on a range of factors, including the severity of the issue, difficulty to repair and more, to pull together an overall stress score.
Underpinning is said to cause the most stress in Australia, with an average score of 8.69 – which makes sense given how costly it is. However, whilst other high-fee maintenance jobs like mould removal and damp and leaky roofs score highly, plumbing problems come second with a score of 8. Again, this makes sense, given that a plumbing issue could mean no water for a considerable period.
Those said to cause the least stress amongst Aussies include faulty door locks, painting and plastering, and appliance repairs. This could be because they’re quick to sort and can sometimes be resolved by yourself without professional help.
Moving over to the US, it’s time to see if the same maintenance jobs are causing the same headaches for Americans and what the hidden costs of buying a home are.
If we compare Australia’s costs to the US, underpinning is also the most expensive, at around US$20,000, but can cost anywhere between US$10,000-US$30,000.
HVAC replacement is the second most costly task, at around US$8,750 on average, though this could increase to a staggering US$22,000 if you need new ductwork and a HEPA filtration system, too.
Rendering, damp, and mould removal are the top five most expensive maintenance tasks, costing between US$5,250-$5,671 on average. For rendering, expect to pay somewhere between US$7-$9 per square foot for stucco and bear in mind that for damp, minor fixes like sealing foundation cracks could cost you much less than expected at around US$600.
At the other end of the spectrum, faulty door locks, blocked gutters, and pest infestations cost the least at an average of US$175-$185. New locks typically cost between US$40-$800, with locksmiths charging around US$75 an hour for their services.
Blocked gutters can cost between US$1-$2.50 per linear foot. However, the overall cost depends on various factors, including the number of storeys in your house, gutter condition, and downspout cleaning.
When it comes to stress, we used the same metrics again, with underpinning also being the most stressful at 7.71, followed by plumbing problems, a leaky roof, and mould removal – all scoring 6.5 and above.
At the other end of the spectrum, faulty door locks, blocked gutters, and painting and plastering are the least stressful, similar to Australia, representing tasks that can be more easily carried out and typically at lower costs.
If you’re considering buying a property, whether you’re just starting with getting on the property ladder or have already owned in the past, there are a few things you can do to make yourself aware of any potential hidden costs when buying a house and deal with them with minimal stress.
A home is probably the biggest purchase you’ll ever make, so don’t be afraid to ask questions before you make an offer. Asking about the age of the house and its systems, such as the age and condition of the roof as well as the HVAC system, will help you to determine when things may need replacing.
Additionally, it’s worth enquiring whether there’s been a history of pest infestations and checking the walls for signs of water stains, leaks or cracks – all of which could cost you significant amounts further down the line if you purchase the property.
Ultimately, when you sign a contract for buying a house, you’re buying all the issues that come with it, and while a survey may cost you initially, it can help you understand what problems need sorting.
By paying for a survey, you’ll uncover various potential issues, such as whether the property has any structural problems or if the electrics need rewiring.
If the survey reveals non-negotiables that need sorting for you to be able to move in, don’t be afraid to negotiate. We recommend you research to understand the cost of the work required, and then you can choose whether to make a new offer in writing. You may be counteroffered or even agree to split the cost of the works, but it’s worth considering so you can recoup some of the extra costs.
Compare the Market’s General Manager of Money, Stephen Zeller, notes that homeowners can potentially draw down on their home loan in order to fund their home repairs.
“No one enjoys finding defects or damage in their home,” Mr Zeller says.
“It’s important for homeowners to remember that if they’re experiencing issues funding their home repairs, then it might be worth considering a draw down from their home loan as a possible funding solution.
“Note however that not all home loans will allow you to draw down on your loan, so be sure to check if your loan allows for it.
“You could also consider refinancing your existing loan to cover the cost of larger home repairs.
“Whatever option you choose, it’s always a good idea to compare home loan options available in order to find the right option for your home and your finances.”
Methodology:
Summary of home repair costs:
Using desk research from a range of online resources, the average range for each category of each individual repair in each country was collected. Following this, a median point was calculated using the MEDIAN function in excel. Following this, the repair costs were ranked accordingly.
Summary of home repair stress scores:
These stress scores provide a holistic evaluation of how distressing Australians/Americans find different home repairs based on real user experiences using comments gathered from Australian/American DIY forums. Each category’s score is derived from real-world stress factors such as:
Stress scale definitions (1–10):
Sources
Additional Sources