Maintenance is a word that homeowners hear about quite often. You invest every cent you have into a place to call your own, and it seems like the moment you move in there’s something to be done. Clean the gutters, fix the leaky faucet, change the air filters, cut the grass… there’s just always something. As much as you may hate the idea of having to do some handy work around the house or hire someone else to do it, the truth is, keeping up with your property benefits you and your loved ones in more ways than one.
Benefits of Home Maintenance
Sure, no one likes to sacrifice their weekends to tend to chores and odd jobs around the house, but it really is for the best. When you maintain your home, there’s a lot to be gained:
Raises property value – a well-maintained home can be sold at a higher price than a comparable home with lots of damage.
Saves you money – when you maintain your property, you extend its overall life of usefulness. You also reduce the chances of needing costly repairs. For example, if you schedule duct cleaning every six months to keep up with your HVAC system, you help to extend the usefulness and efficiency of your furnace and air conditioner. You also save money on energy costs as poorly maintained appliances and systems require more energy to operate which jacks your bills up.
Improves health and safety – failing to keep up with various parts of your home puts you and your family at risk for getting hurt or falling ill. A plumbing leak that goes unresolved can turn into a mold issue which can lead to upper respiratory issues. An outdated electrical system can result in a house fire.
Maintenance Tasks Every Homeowner Needs to Complete
Now that you have a better understanding of the importance of maintaining your home, let’s look at some of the most important tasks to complete on a periodic basis:
HVAC – you like the idea of being able to stay in a place that has heat and cool air when you need it. Your HVAC system needs to be properly maintained to make sure you continue to enjoy that luxury. A poorly maintained system can result in health issues, higher energy bills, and the immediate need to replace expensive appliances like a furnace or central air unit. Having your ducts cleaned, cleaning and changing filters, and having hoses and vents inspected help to maintain the system.
Plumbing – Another important home maintenance task to prioritize is your plumbing. There are pipes throughout the property that help you get clean water and dispose of waste. When something goes wrong with this system it can lead to illness, water damage, and costly repairs. You should have your pipes inspected for leaks and have the septic tank cleaned out every few years.
Roofing – A lot of homeowners forget the importance of a well-maintained roof. However, if your roof isn’t kept up, it could be very dangerous and expensive to repair. Holes, missing roofing material, and backed up gutters, for example, can result in events like flooding, mold, and foundation issues. You should have your roof inspected periodically to have any minor damage repaired. Your gutters will need to be cleaned out every few months to ensure rainwater can easily travel away from the home.
Lawn and Garden – Your back and front yard are an extension of your home and need to be kept up as well. Not only should you regularly cut the grass and pull out the weeds, but you also need to trim trees and shrubbery, maintain the irrigation system, and tend to the crops in the garden.
Your home is one of the biggest investments you’ve ever made, so why neglect it by not taking care of it. Though you may dread the idea of getting your hands dirty or spending a bit of cash to hire an expert, the reality is, it could be a whole lot worse. Home maintenance not only makes your home look good, it also saves you money, increases your property value, and keeps your loved ones healthy and safe. If you’ve been slacking on maintaining your house, get together a checklist of things to do, schedule appointments with experts, and begin pouring love back into the space you care about so deeply.
