Home Services Subscription Audit (2026)

The average homeowner spends $6,000-15,000/year on recurring home services. Most could cut 40-60% by switching providers, going DIY, or canceling services they don't need.

📋 Quick Audit: Pull your last 3 months of bank/credit card statements. Search for: lawn, pest, clean, maid, security, HVAC, pool, water, filter, warranty, maintenance. Add up the total — it's probably more than you think.

🌿 Lawn Care ($600-1,800/year)

TruGreen/Weed Man: $600-1,200/year for fertilizer + weed control
Mowing service: $120-300/month during growing season
DIY alternative: 4 seasonal applications ($115-155/year) + push mower ($300, lasts 10+ years)
Savings: $400-1,500/year by doing your own fertilizer + mowing

Related: Cancel TruGreen Guide

🐛 Pest Control ($400-800/year)

Terminix/Orkin: $400-800/year for quarterly treatments
DIY alternative: Ortho Home Defense + sealing entry points ($50-100/year)
Exception: Keep professional service for termites, bed bugs, or wildlife only
Savings: $300-700/year

Related: Cancel Terminix Guide

🧹 House Cleaning ($3,000-8,000/year)

Franchise (Molly Maid, Merry Maids): $200-350/visit biweekly = $5,200-9,100/year
Independent cleaner: $100-150/visit biweekly = $2,600-3,900/year
Monthly instead of biweekly: Cuts cost in half
Savings: $2,600-5,200/year switching franchise → independent

Related: Cancel Molly Maid Guide

🔒 Home Security ($300-1,200/year)

Vivint/ADT: $40-70/month + equipment financing = $500-1,500/year
Ring Alarm: $10/month, no contract = $120/year
SimpliSafe: $18-28/month, no contract = $216-336/year
No-subscription cameras: Eufy, Reolink — $0/month with local storage
Savings: $300-1,200/year switching from contract to DIY security

Related: Cancel Vivint Guide · Cancel ADT

❄️ HVAC Maintenance ($200-600/year)

Service contracts: $200-600/year for biannual tune-ups + priority service
Pay-per-visit instead: $75-150 per tune-up × 2 = $150-300/year
DIY maintenance: Change filters quarterly ($20-40/year), keep coils clean, clear drain lines
When contracts make sense: If your system is 10+ years old and breakdown risk is high

🏊 Pool Service ($1,800-4,800/year)

Weekly service: $150-400/month = $1,800-4,800/year
DIY with automation: Salt system ($500-1,200 one-time) + robotic cleaner ($400-800 one-time) = $100-200/year in chemicals
Savings: $1,500-4,000/year after equipment pays for itself (6-12 months)

🚰 Water Filtration ($300-600/year)

Culligan/Kinetico rental: $25-50/month = $300-600/year (you never own the equipment)
Buy your own system: $200-500 one-time + $50-100/year in filters
Brita/Berkey for drinking: $40-100/year in replacement filters
Savings: $200-500/year after first year

🏠 Home Warranty ($400-700/year)

American Home Shield, Choice, etc.: $400-700/year + $75-125 service fee per claim
Average payout: Companies deny 30-50% of claims (pre-existing conditions, improper maintenance)
Better alternative: Put $50/month into a "home repair fund" HYSA — you keep what you don't spend
After 3 years of self-insuring: $1,800+ in savings for repairs on YOUR terms

Total Potential Savings

Typical homeowner savings by auditing home services:

• Lawn care: $500-1,000
• Pest control: $300-700
• Cleaning (franchise → independent): $2,000-4,000
• Security (contract → no-contract): $300-1,000
• HVAC (contract → pay-per-visit): $100-300
• Pool (service → DIY+automation): $1,500-3,000
• Water (rental → own): $200-500
• Home warranty → self-insure: $400-700

Total: $5,300-11,200/year in potential savings

📊 Find Every Recurring Charge
Upload your bank statement to JustCancel — we'll find every subscription and recurring charge, including home services you forgot about.