You invested your entire savings and cut back on things like eating out and vacations to come up with the money necessary to purchase the home of your dreams. Congrats, owning a home gives you a wonderful feeling of security and can help benefit you in retirement. However, there are many repairs and continued maintenance issues that come with owning any property. Listed below are a few things that you should take care of in order to preserve your investment.
Your Home’s Exterior
The exterior of your home is ground zero. It constantly receives exposure to harsh elements. Strong winds, heavy snow, and torrential rain can cause your home’s exterior to look aged. However, more importantly, at the point of contact, the integrity of the roof may be at risk. Even if you have a 20 plus year warranty on your roof, life happens, and if left unchecked, your home’s protective cover can cause interior damage to ceilings and walls. The good news is that this is something you can avoid by having local roofing contractors check the roof once every year or so, or after a terrible storm.
Seal Cracks and Crevices
Your foundation can crack and create tiny portholes, large enough for bugs to enter at will. This is something that can lead to an infestation, and even worse, carpenter ants or termites. Each of these has a fetish for wood. Once inside, it’s hard to detect them until, of course, the damage comes into view. By this time, the damage, in many cases, is overwhelming and the cost of repair can run into the tens of thousands. Having a professional pest control agency do an annual inspection will help you avoid a disaster of this magnitude.
Replacing Outdated, Inefficient Windows and Doors
Perhaps you saved a bundle by buying an older home. But what you may not realize is that your home heating and cooling costs are inflated. Older homes without updates usually only contain single-pane windows. Newer homes come standard with double-panes, and for good reason. Double-pane windows prevent the outside air from entering and their thickness will also help reduce noise levels. Older doors typically don’t have insulation, which allows the elements indoors. However, it also lets bugs, rodents, and moisture inside, too.
Plumbing
If your home is new or only a couple of years old, your plumbing should be in good shape. On the other hand, if your home is more than 15 or 20 years old, chances are good that the plumbing may have weak spots waiting to break. Having a licensed plumber take a look at the existing plumbing every few years offers a good way to reduce the risk of a serious pipe burst that can cause the basement or other areas to flood.
Updates to Save Money Now
There are many updates to your home that improve your level of comfort, save money and make it more desirable to a buyer. A programmable thermostat gives you control over the temperature at all times and an energy-saving showerhead uses less water without sacrificing on water-pressure quality. Energy-efficient appliances, such as dishwashers, washers and dryers, especially when they are new, have many beneficial features and cost you less per load. Making an effort to reduce your carbon footprint will work in your favor now and in the future.
Air Filters/Vents
When it comes to air filters in your home, most manufacturers recommend replacing them once a month. In addition, it’s also important to keep your vents clean to put less stress on the heating and cooling system and to maintain a comfortable environment, regardless of the season.
Your home is a place where you enjoy relaxing and creating fond memories and for many who work from home, making money. In order to keep it as a place of comfort, you’ll need to maintain it over the years.