How to Plan Home Maintenance Costs: A System-Based Approach for 2026

The 1% Rule, the square footage rule, and the "set aside $200/month" advice all share the same flaw: they treat every home the same. A 5-year-old home with new systems and a 30-year-old home with original everything are not the same financial proposition. Planning maintenance costs requires a system-level approach.

Every home is a collection of 30–40 systems, each with its own lifespan, maintenance cost curve, and replacement cost. Effective cost planning starts by inventorying each system, estimating remaining useful life, and calculating the annual reserve needed for both maintenance and eventual replacement.

For each major system in your home, record: