4 often overlooked home maintenance tasks that could cost you later

Your to-do list likely does not need another item added to it. But when it comes to home maintenance, putting off those seemingly small, annoying tasks — think trimming your trees or vacuuming behind your refrigerator — can lead to that much more of your time and money getting taken up later.

Consider the less-than-fun task of cleaning out your gutters. If done yourself, it could take 30 minutes to an hour, maybe a little longer depending on the size of your home , or you could shell out “$100 to $200 for a pro to do the job,” said AARP . But skipping that chore can lead to a backup in rainwater, which can get under your roof or into your walls; the consequent home repairs are likely to cost you “around $3,800.”

Here are four home maintenance tasks that may cost you big — unl