Every year, a homeowner we know hired a contractor to patch a leaky roof. The repair cost was a tradeoff. It cost $100 or so every year, or about $2,000, all at once. After several years of annoyance, the once-and-for-all repair was finally authorized, and an annual pain in the neck was to be eliminated. Unfortunately, as the repair was being made, fungus damage was discovered, and, thus, the repair cost doubled. The culprit -- a water leak that was allowed to persist for several years. Don't procrastinate. And that's the On The House tip for today.