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How much are Rappahannock County homeowners spending per year for alternations, improvements, repairs and maintenance of their property?
The findings are that it runs into big figures. According to the latest government reports listing average outlays per housing unit in the regional area, local homeowners spent an estimated $449,000 for such purposes in the past year. It amounted to an average expenditure in the area of $222 per unit. Nationally it was $297. The4se were the averages. Some spent more than this and others much less since only a small proportion of homeowners go in for sizeable improvements or renovations in any one year.
The figures, based upon data from the Department of Commerce, show that the major outlay, in most cases, was for additions, alterations and replacements. About 60 percent of the total went in this direction. The remaining 40 percent was for maintenance and general upkeep. Painting was the biggest item in this category, accounting for nearly half the amount spent. Next in order were plumbing, roofing, heating and other repairs.
The amount of money going for home improvements has been on the rise lately. Nationally, reports the Commerce Department, $14.8 billion was spent in the past year. This was an ini crease of $1.2 billion over the previous year.
Most experts agree that the increase was due principally to the fact that many families who
97.5%