Ultimate Home Repair Guide for the SF Bay Area

Looking for what might be the ultimate home repair guide for the SF Bay Area? We’ve got you covered. If you’re looking to put an offer on a home, but you see from the general home inspection reports that it needs some repairs, you’ve probably got questions. Most home inspection reports are great about listing suggested repairs, but are not so good at helping prospective buyers to understand what costs are associated with these repairs.

Though it may downright daunting to research certain home repair issues and their inevitable cost for the repair, let us help you by breaking down a list of common Home Repair issues with a rough cost estimate.

Foundation

• Cracks – Large visible crack(s) due to contraction and expansion because of fluctuations in humidity levels and temperature changes. Estimate cost – $2,000 to $7,500.
• Moisture/Damp – Visible moisture or water on the wall due to external ( rain, water from basement soil, etc.) or internal  ( Dryer, Shower ). Estimate cost – $50 – $200.
• Sagging or Uneven Floor – sagging floor may also signify damage from water leaks or pests, like termites. In other instances, your floors could sag due to plain old wear and tear. Estimate cost – $1000 – $10,000

Mold

• Black mold – Known as “Cladosporium” is typically a black-colored substance that grows on the back of toilets, painted surfaces, and fiberglass air ducts. $15 – $30 per square foot

Plumbing

• Dripping Faucets- Dripping faucets are usually caused by a worn-out washer or O ring and in some instances corrosion or even improper faucet installation. Estimate cost –  $60-$120 for minor repairs and $250-$500 for major fixes.
• Leaky Pipes– Pipe leaks can be caused by Stubborn clogs/ Incorrectly laid pipes/ Corrosion/ Joint Damage/ Cracks/ High water pressure. Estimate cost –  $150 – $300.
• Running Toilets – Described as constantly flushing toilets caused by Refill tube problems/ Worn out flush valve/ Improperly sized flapper chain/ corroded toilet handles. Estimate cost – $50 – $400.
• Low water pressure – When using your faucets and water just trickles or the toilet does not flush properly this could be a sign of low water pressure. Usual causes are Pipe corrosion/ Hidden water leaks/ drain or sewer clogs/ cracked block sewage lines.  Estimate cost – Regulator replacement  $350 – $450 and Leaking Pipes $150 – $300.
• Leaking Hose Bibb – Leaking hose Bibbs are common in the spring and summer seasons after a long cold winter unprotected hose bibbs can crack and begin to leak. The estimated cost is $120 – $300. 
• Slow or Clogged Drains – The usual reasons for slow or clogged drains are as follows; 1) Accumulation of hair, soap, and other foreign debris that have built up over time. 2) Multiple slow or clogged drains could indicate that you may be dealing with sewer line problems. Estimate cost – $99 – $750.
• Sump Pump Failure – A sump pump is a device that moves water from your basement to the outside of a home. When it is not working properly possible causes may be a stuck switch/ high amounts of water after a rainfall/ improper installation/ old sump pump. Estimate cost –  $400 – $550.  
• Water Heater Problem – When water heaters cannot provide enough or any all hot water you may have a water heater problem. The common causes are heating element failure/ corrosion or sediment buildup/ loose electrical connection/ improper installation/ wrong sized system not enough to cover the whole house.  Estimate cost – $1300 – $5500

Electrical

• Grounding Issues – When there are grounding issues you may run the risk of overheating electrical wires, shocks, burns, and or an electrical fire. Estimate cost – $135 – $300.
• Lighting Problems – If you are encountering any issues with light bulbs burning out too quickly this may indicate you have an electrical problem. Common reasons for these are – High Wattage/ High Voltage/ Improper air circulation/ Bulb being fixed too tightly/ Bad wiring. $85 – $300.
• Electrical Shocks – The common reason why you are getting electric shocks even if the appliance is on or off is an indication of electrical problems or issues with wiring. Estimate cost – will be dependent on the appliance, check manufacturer.
• Electrical surges – If you are encountering electrical surges this may be due to poor electrical wiring, faulty appliances, damaged power lines, or even lightning strikes. Constant power surges may lead to damaged equipment. Estimate cost – $70 – $700.
• Power sags and dips – Power sags or dips are when appliances either don’t get enough or have too much voltage due to cheap or faulty power grids. This may cause issues with appliances malfunctioning due to constant changes in voltage. Estimate cost – $70 – $700.
• Switches of light not working– A switch not working is usually due to poor workmanship or poor quality of the product. It can also be a faulty wiring, circuit, or outlet. Estimate cost – $65 – $125.
• Tripping circuit breaker – Tripping circuit breaks indicates that too many high-power-consuming items are drawing power from the source. Estimate cost – $100 – $200. 
• Backstabbed wires – Backstabbed wires are wires with holes and cuts in them, thus exposing live wires and increasing the chances of electrocution if there is direct contact with them. Estimate cost – Basic Repair:  $150 – $465 and Larger Repair: $1000 – $5000.

Roof

• Roof Leaks – The most common roof issue. May be caused by different factors but most of the time it’s due to water damage or age. Estimate cost – $300 – $15,000.
• Standing Water – A roof issue that happens from water is standing water or pooled water. This can happen when your roof starts to sink in certain areas but is most common on flat roofs. It’s important that water drains off to avoid serious problems. Estimate cost – $150 –  $7000.
• Damaged Shingles – Shingles can be damaged from heavy storms, debris, sun exposure, or even just the passing of time. Estimate cost – $150 – $7000.
• Damaged Flashing – When flashing gets damaged, the seams that seal your roof and any protruding structure open up and can cause a number of different problems. Estimate cost –   $300 – $600.
• Shrinkage – Shrinkage can affect all types of roofing materials but happens more frequently on roofs that have roof coverings such as synthetic rubber membranes. It occurs due to added pressure from materials shrinking and pulling from all directions. Signs of shrinkage are cracking and tears. Estimate cost – $150 –  $7000.
• Clogged Gutters – Clogged gutters have the potential to cause expensive damage over time. The longer a gutter is clogged, the more water is backlogged into your roofing system and home. Estimate cost – $70 – $500.
• Ventilation issues – When ventilation isn’t working properly, it can lead to problems outside and inside your home. Poor ventilation causes moisture to accumulate in your attic and raises the internal temperature of your home. Estimate cost – $200 – $600.

Flooring

• Moisture – Water can damage many types of floors, especially if it’s left standing. If water has made a floor buckle or grow mildew, it’s time to replace it. Estimate cost -$450 – $13,500.
• Wear and Tear – Floors usually in high-traffic areas show signs of wear if they’re not durable enough for the setting. If you’re planning to replace a floor that is often threaded upon, durability should be a primary concern. Estimate cost – $450 – $13,500.
• Fading and Discolorations – Sunlight and the wrong cleaning products can make your floor lose its original brightness and clarity. Estimate cost -$450 – $13,500.

All of the information mentioned above are rough estimate prices as of 2023, but as always, it’s recommended to check with a licensed contractor for the best and and most up to date information to account for changes in labor costs, raw materials and more.  

About the Author

Montana Gabrielle Hooks is a SF Bay Area Realtor in the East Bay. Local entrepreneurship, playing bass guitar, and singing live karaoke are a few of her favorite things. She serves on the Young Realtists Division, Oakland board is a member of the Associated Real Property Brokers. Follow her on Instagram or learn more about her on her website.