15 Quick Home Maintenance Tips All Homeowners Should Consider

6/14/2018

Of all the investments you’ll make in your life, few are going to be bigger than your home. Just take a look at its value: is there anything else you’d spend such a huge amount of money? Unless you’re a Kardashian, we’re going to guess: “no.” As such, it’s imperative that you stay on top of your home’s maintenance. In so doing, you’ll be ensuring that your home value doesn't take a dive for completely avoidable reasons. Check out our fourteen tips below, and your home will be as valuable in the future as it is today.

15 Quick Home Maintenance Tips All Homeowners Should Consider

1. Stay On Top Of Small Issues

By far the best way to protect your investment is to tidy up the small issues as you go along. It’s easy for small scuffs, spillages, and other incidents to happen, and if they’re left untreated, then it won’t be long before your house is becoming to look a little worse for wear - and the value has begun to slide. If the paint or wallpaper is beginning to peel, then take steps to correct it as soon as possible. It’ll be much easier to spend an hour on the weekend fixing up your home, rather than trying to fix every room in the property when it comes to selling time.

2. And Consider The Big Issues

The small issues are niggling problems that you rectify yourself; the bigger problems are more serious and may need a professional to help fix. Things like mold, foundation problems, and electrical systems that are long out of date can seriously depreciate the value of your home, so it’s important to solve these problems as early as possible. You can look out for common signs of mold, have a company like HelitechOnline.com repair your foundations, and hire an electrician to replace your wiring. These things can greatly compromise your home’s quality, so don’t take any chances; get them resolved at the earliest sign.

3. Look For Signs Of Infestation

If you’ve noticed squirrels, mice or even snakes in your attic, then there’s a good chance that your insulation is also being deteriorated by their presence. If you’ve only just noticed the infestation then it’s a good idea to call a service such as insulatekansascity.com to have it replaced entirely. This is because there’s a good chance that there are feces and urine stains all over your attic and insulation if you’ve had an animal infestation for some time. Even if you don’t see obvious signs that there has been a rodent or critter infestation, there’s a good chance they could be hiding around your attic, such as between insulation panels.

4. Perform A Spring and Fall Clean Up

There are threats to your home all around your property. It can be damaged by stormy weather, hail, heavy snowfall, and other strong weather conditions. These things don’t always impact your home in a direct way, either. Sometimes, the elements can cause a tree to fall over; and if it lands on your property, then you’ll have a serious problem. Each year, make sure you’re taking a walk around your property and identify any menacing looking tree branches that might pose a problem. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for - or you don’t feel comfortable removing a branch yourself - then hire a tree surgeon to do the work for you. Not everyone enjoys pulling weeds and raking leaves, but it is worth it. And it’s not like you need to go overboard either. There’s no need for an exquisite English garden - just make sure that the grass is a respectable length, there are no old items clogging up the place, and so on. It’s much more pleasurable to return to a home that has a well-curated yard, too.

5. Check Your Smoke, C02 and Radon Detectors

Your investment won’t amount to much if it’s in a pile of charred ruins. Home fires have steadily decreased over the past few decades thanks to homeowners being more conscientious about safety precautions. Every month, check your smoke detector to ensure it's working, and replace the batteries at least once or twice a year. Also, be sure your fire extinguisher is kept somewhere handy and as close to fire sources (like the stove or fireplace) as possible.

6. Inspect Cracks In Asphalt, Cement and Other Paving Materials

Most people tend not to think about their driveway all that much. After all, as long as you've got space to park your car, you don't need to worry about it, right? Well, the truth is that you might need to give it a little more thought that you expected. For one thing, when you're driving your car onto it time and time again, it's going to wear down over time. If it starts to become uneven then not only will it look terrible but it can wreak havoc on your car's tyres. Finding a good masonry contractor can help you find the best ways to relay your drive to make it as smooth as possible. That way you're sure that your drive is that best quality as well as making it far more pleasant to look at.

7. Clear Clutter and Create Some Space

It is so easy to feel stressed out by your home if it is particularly lacking in free space. When that happens, it means that you struggle to keep your head on in the same way, and that can be a particularly concerning experience to have in your own home. So it is absolutely worth your while trying to create some space. You might look into how to add more storage space to your home, or you might just think about trying to declutter by getting rid of old belongings you no longer need. That can be an incredibly lightening experience for all.

8. Check Your Roof And Gutters

You’re normally aware of the problems that are developing in your house. You know that your boiler is shot once you step into a freezing cold shower, for instance. Sometimes, however, the issue is harder to locate, and this is especially true when it comes to your roof. If a shingle is damaged, your building may be letting in water and drafts, and wouldn’t know it unless it through to one of your rooms. As such, from time to time it’s worth getting up on a ladder and taking a look (or hiring a professional to do so) to make sure everything’s as it should be up there.

9. Replace or Repair Broken Light Fixtures And / Or Light Bulbs

Never underestimate how much of an impact the lighting can have in a home. The better your lighting is, the more it can improve the visual dynamic of the property, not to mention the fact that it can make the property look bigger as well. Barn lights might be the way to go if you have the aesthetics to fit with them. You might also consider spotlights, strobe lighting, or chandeliers. If you can get the lighting right, you might be surprised by how much things can improve in the home.

10. Check Windows For Cracks, Drafts & Other Damage

Double glazing is something that the majority of modern homes already have, and it is essential these days. Not only is it great for keeping the weather (and the cold) at bay, but it is also important for making the home look great visually. Double glazing looks smart and modern and makes the home look better. And, the best part is the fact that you can get the uPVC or wood finish to match whatever is happening with the rest of the home.

11. Tidy Up The Exterior Of Your Home

When selling your home, it's the first thing that people see. If you want to change the home for your benefit, this will always be the first thing you see when coming back from work. The curb appeal can make a property more welcoming. The great thing is that curb appeal doesn't take much of an effort. You don't even have to repaint the walls; you could hire a pressure washer to get rid of the dirt and mold, effectively wiping the home clean! If you want a little bit of color, paint the front door! Turning it from a drab white to a bold yellow so can make it pop in comparison to the rest of the houses in the street.

12. Make Sure Your HVAC Is Serviced

Before you do anything else, take the time to inspect your home looking for potential causes of energy leak including holes in the roof, leaking pipes, cracks in the drywall and windows with loose seals. Then, call in the roofer, plumber or air conditioning repair and have them sort it out or, if you’re a capable DIYer you may be able to do it yourself. There’s no point doing anything else if the structure of your home itself needs work carried out.

13. Perform A Deep Clean

As well the daily tidy, you’ll want to consider putting some time aside each month to do a more thorough clean. This involves pulling out your furniture and reaching all the dirt that lies in those nooks and crannies. The stove, oven and microwave, the bathtub and floors all deserve attention at least once a month as well. Aside from just generally making your home feel cleaner, this will also provide you with an opportunity to keep an eye on any worrying signs of say, mold or mildew.

14. Look For Cracks In Tile & Grout

This is quite possibly the most important step that you can take when making your home look attractive to potential buyers. There are going to be parts of your home you might not even consider cleaning--so clean those, too. We're talking baseboards, exposed radiator coils and tile grout. (if you don't think potential buyers don't look behind shower curtains and doors, guess again!).

15. Check For Leaky Pipes and Clogged Drains

Just like your roof, your drainage and gutter system might be something you forget to check until it is overflowing or blocked, at which point the repairs can be expensive, and it can cause damage to your property. Regularly checking to make sure that they are clean and clear from leaves, twigs and other debris is important, especially before you enter the winter months and once they have passed. A Drain Cleaning service is particularly useful if this is just another task that you do not have time or the equipment for.

Clearly, owning a home is not easy, but it is a labor of love. It's where you raise your family and create many memories. Your home is your castle, but your castle can easily become a trap house if you don't keep up with home maintenance. Take our advice above and tackle the issues as go--rather than waiting for the problems become too large, and too expensive.

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