Getting to grips with a property is a much bigger deal than many homeowners imagine. For some, buying a property feels a bit like any other consumer decision. You see something you want, and you get it. But that’s not actually how the property market works. Those who purchase homes are also buying an investment-grade asset – something that they can sell for more cash in the future.
For that reason, home maintenance becomes essential. It’s not just something people need to do to keep themselves safe. It’s also valuable for maintaining personal net worth.
If you’re a new homeowner, though, you sometimes don’t know what you need to maintain or how. You’re continually on DIY websites looking for guides and instructions, telling you how things work and what your priorities should be.
In this article, we distil everything down into easy-to-digest chunks of information. By the end of it, you’ll have a much better understanding of the things you need to do to keep it in good working order (and keep its value high).
Trim Your Surrounding Trees
While trees are an excellent addition to any garden, they’re also a liability, especially those close to your buildings.
There are two main risks here, according to angieslist.com. The first is that the tree will fall in a storm or branches will land on your roofing and damage it. (Or worse still, one of your trees might overhang a neighbour’s property).
The second risk is that the roots of trees that are too close to your buildings will burrow under the foundations and damage the structure of your property, forcing thousands of pounds in repair work.
The solution to this issue is simple. If you’re worried, hire an arborist for a consultation. They’ll be able to tell you whether you’re at risk from tree-fall or damage and offer solutions.
One solution might be to remove and relocate the tree entirely – a significant job. Another is cutting it back so that it doesn’t overhang your property, avoiding any branches crashing down and destroying the roof. The cheapest option is always maintenance. Repairing a damaged roof or cracked foundations are notoriously tricky and expensive, requiring specialists to do the job correctly.
Get Rid Of Dust Regularly
Dust might seem innocuous while it sits on your countertops and bookcases. But it is actually a hazard to the machinery and appliances in your home and can shorten their useful lives considerably. The problem with dust is the effect that it has on filters and moving parts in your household equipment.
Tiny particles, for instance, can build up on your air conditioning filters, forcing units to work harder. Dust can also shorten the lifespan of refrigerators, washers, dryers and other appliances. Committing to regular dust removal, therefore, need to be a part of your weekly plan. It’s a chore, but it also helps to keep the environment cleaner and more hygienic. What’s more, you’ll usually save money over the long term – and that can only be a good thing.
Drain Your Water Heater
If you have a water heater that you can drain, you should do so from time to time – perhaps once per year. The reason for this is to cut down on the buildup of gunk and residue inside that could prevent it from working. If you live in a hard water area, limescale will build up on the heating elements over time, causing them to work less efficiently than initially intended. Eventually, this extra stress on them can cause them to fail.
Fortunately, you can get cleaning flushes that scoop out all the detritus on the inside and get rid of it. They dissolve any chunks of material or deposits in the water heater, making it good as new. Don’t leave your heater for ten years without any maintenance. Eventually, you’ll run into hot water issues. However, if you are finding that your water heater is showing signs of problems already, it would be best to get in contact with a North Orlando FL plumber, or one in your area, to give it a full check and see what the issue is.
Set Up Maintenance Reminders
Knowing that you should maintain your property is one thing. But learning when is quite another. There are many odd jobs that you need to do – and many different times that they need doing. A water tank, for instance, might need maintaining once per year, while the dusting needs doing once every few days.
Setting up reminders for regular maintenance is helpful because it allows you to keep tabs on all the appliances around your home. You don’t want to do what so many businesses do and adopt a “break-fix” model where you only intervene when things go wrong. Instead, you want things on a regular schedule in your calendar, allowing you to plan jobs in advance when required.
Your property maintenance schedule should encompass tasks such as checking your siding, roof and guttering; conducting an online search for ‘roofing companies near me‘ can connect with professionals who can efficiently handle these inspections on your behalf. Other aspects may include looking out for rotting wood, adding salt to your dishwasher, having your boiler serviced and so on.
Keep A Watchful Eye On Your Plumbing System
Plumbing and drains can be the bane of your life. Eventually, something will go wrong, and you’ll need to get support. Sites like localplumber-uk.com talk about the importance of adequate drainage to maintain your quality of life. But what can you do as the average property owner?
Well, one strategy is to ensure that branches and leaves don’t end up blocking your drains outside your home. Keeping these free of detritus will help tremendously.
The next thing you can do is to abstain from dumping things like sanitary products in your toilet and using a separate bin instead.
You can also keep an eye on things like plug holes and get assistance at the first sign of a blockage. Don’t wait for things to get terrible before calling for professional help. By that time, the issue could have become entrenched and much more challenging to deal with.
Get Regular Inspections
Some parts of your home require inspections by people who know what they’re doing. The plumbing, electrics and heating system all require professionals with qualifications to deal with them safely.
A lot of new homeowners, however, don’t understand the value of home inspections long-term. They cost you money upfront, but you invariably wind up saving money over the long haul. The value of discovering a new issue is often high. It means that you can deal with it at a low cost instead of having to pay the full price once it develops into something more substantial.
So, for instance, if a single tile comes loose from your roof, then replacing it is something you can usually do at low cost. If, however, you leave it to develop and damp gets in, the price will go up substantially – sometimes requiring you to replace the entire roof and supporting structure. That’s not what you want.
Inspect Your Property Before You Buy It
If you’re still in the buying phase, then be sure to inspect the property before you go ahead and buy it. Often you’ll discover undisclosed issues that could come back to bite you in the future, costing you lots of money you’d prefer not to have to spend.
Check Your Caulk
Caulk is that bouncy white stuff around your sink and between the edges of the shower and bathroom walls. It’s a kind of waterproof putty builders install when creating a new bathroom to prevent water from getting behind cabinets or into walls, causing mould and dampness.
Mostly, caulk works very effectively. But sometimes it can dry out, become brittle and flake off. In short, it doesn’t last forever.
Replacing caulk can be a hassle, but it is something you can learn to do yourself to prevent problems and issues with damp in your bathroom.
This is a collaborative post
