A well-maintained home is not only more aesthetically pleasing, but it can also save you money in the long run. Taking care of your home and maintaining regular maintenance can prevent minor problems from turning into extensive, expensive repairs. You are also basically ensuring that your home retains its value over time while providing your family with a comfortable, healthy, and safe place to live.
Reports show that the average person spends about $2,000 yearly on home maintenance and repairs. However, this number can be much higher if you don’t take care of your home and end up needing to pay for expensive repairs.
Here are some tips for keeping your home well-maintained:
Keep Up With Routine Cleaning and Decluttering
One of the easiest ways to keep your home looking its best is to keep it clean and organized. When you fail to declutter and consistently clean, your home can look disorganized, cluttered, and even dirty.
Make it a habit to declutter, wipe down surfaces, vacuum, and mop every week. You should also deep clean your home at least once a month. This will help keep your home looking fresh and prevent dust, dirt, and grime from building up over time.
You should also make sure to launder your bedding and towels every week. Not only will this keep them clean and fresh, but it will also help extend their lifespan.
Perform Regular Inspections
Not all homeowners would invest in home inspections. Usually, they only conduct these during the home-buying process or after seeing signs of damage. However, it would be best to have your home regularly inspected to ensure that everything is in working order and to prevent any significant problems in the future.
Hire a professional inspector to check your home for structural damage, pests, or electrical and plumbing issues. This will help you catch any problems early on so you can address them immediately before they become bigger, more expensive problems.
Inspect your home’s gutters and downspouts to ensure they are clean and in good condition. Clogged or damaged gutters can cause water damage to your home’s foundation or siding.
You should also inspect your windows and doors to ensure that they are adequately sealed and that there are no cracks or gaps. These can let in drafts, which can increase your energy bills.
Keep Up With Regular Maintenance
Many homeowners fail to keep up with regular maintenance tasks. This includes changing the air filter in your HVAC system, checking the smoke detectors, and checking the gutters. However, these tasks are essential for keeping your home running smoothly and preventing expensive repairs down the road.
For example, if you switch out the air filter in your HVAC system, it will run better and last longer. Checking your smoke detectors can help ensure that they are working correctly and will alert you in the event of a fire. And timely cleaning of your gutters can help prevent water damage to your home.
To ensure you stay on top of your maintenance duties, keep a maintenance schedule and set reminders for yourself. This way, you’ll be less likely to forget important tasks. You can find printable maintenance schedules online and put notifications in your phone or calendar to help you remember.
Invest in Quality Products, Materials and Professionals When Necessary
When it comes to maintaining your home, quality matters. So don’t skimp on products or materials to save a few bucks in the short term. Use quality paint, wood stain/sealer, tile grout sealer, caulk, etc. This will ensure that you are using products that will last and won’t need to replace them as often.
Some tasks are best left to professionals. For example, you should let licensed professionals do electrical work, roof repair/replacement, and major plumbing repairs. The initial costs will be higher, but you can be confident that the job will be done right, and you won’t have to worry about expensive repairs down the road.
Get Creative With Your Home Maintenance Budget
Maintaining a home can be expensive, but there are ways to save money. For example, you can shop for the best materials and product prices. You can also wait for sales or coupons to help you save money.
You can also get creative with how you budget for maintenance tasks. For example, instead of setting aside a fixed amount of money each month, you can set aside a certain percentage of your income. This way, as your income goes up, so does your home maintenance budget.
If you’re short in budget, you can also opt for do-it-yourself methods or repair instead of replacement. For example, refinish your hardwood floors instead of replacing them. Or, you can patch holes in your walls instead of hiring a professional to do it for you.
If you really need major repairs and your home maintenance fund is not enough, you consider a home mortgage loan. You can use your home’s equity to finance the repairs. You can either do a cash-out refinance or a home equity loan/line of credit. Just make sure to shop around for the best rates and terms.
A cash-out refinance allows you to refinance your mortgage for more than you currently owe and take the difference in cash. You can then use this any purpose, including debt consolidation and home improvements. On the other hand, a home equity loan/line of credit lets you borrow a set amount of money at a fixed rate and term. You can use the funds for home improvements, but you’ll need to make monthly payments.
If you are taking a home loan to improve and maintain your home, make sure to do your research and shop around for the best rates and terms. Find a mortgage lender with an excellent reputation and compare different offers before deciding on one. The right one will consider your financial situation, offer you the best mortgage type and terms, and provide excellent customer service.
A well-maintained home is more visually appealing. It can also save you money in the long run by preventing small problems from turning into big ones. By following these five tips, you can maintain a beautiful and well-functioning home without putting too much time or effort into it!
