As homeowners, it’s our duty to make sure our homes don’t just look good but also function at their best. This is where home maintenance comes in. This involves different things such as inspecting for cracks in the walls or leaks on the roof, repainting the space, minor furniture repairs, the works.
Home maintenance can help prevent expensive water leak repairs or roof replacements, allowing you to save money in the long run. Besides house renovations and upgrades, proper maintenance is also a great way to increase or keep the value of your living space. The last thing you want is to have a list of property problems in your home inspection report, particularly if you’re looking to sell it in the future.
1. Not cleaning your gutters
It might be unpleasant for many to clean their gutters, but this is one of the most important tasks you should perform. You can climb up that ladder and do the cleaning yourself. But for a safer option, you can hire a professional to do it. They can leave your gutters spotless and even check for any possible leaks.
Ignoring this maintenance task can seriously impact your house from top to bottom. Let’s give an example, clogged gutters won’t be able to drain rainwater, right? If the shingles absorb that collected water, they can deteriorate much faster and damage your roof deck. It can also cause the water to drip down the foundation of your house, resulting in cracks and structural failure.
2. Not checking for water damage
Among the worst nightmares of homeowners is water damage. You can limit or completely prevent such catastrophic issues by doing routine spot checks around your house. Again, you can this yourself or hire an expert if you don’t have the knowledge to do so. Basically, you need to look for signs of mold growth or any distinct odor.
Discoloration of floors, ceilings, and walls is another surefire signal of water damage. If you notice that your wallpapers are starting to peel or the paint is somewhat bubbling, it’s time to worry. Avoid these by doing a regular inspection of your plumbing system.
3. Poor lawn or backyard maintenance
Most homeowners neglect the importance of regular and proper upkeep of their backyard. In fact, failing to take care of your outdoor area can pose health risks to everyone living in the house. For instance, poor maintenance, either through excessive use of garden products or neglect, can lead to unsafe well water or soil problems.
A properly maintained home landscape can add value to your house, increase its curb appeal, and give you a pleasant retreat to sit and relax. Some backyard maintenance tasks you can do yourself include debris removal, raking, or grass trimming. Don’t forget to also check the lighting fixtures on your walkways, pathways, and decks. Hire a landscape lighting service to ensure everything works fine, or in case you’re looking to upgrade your backyard lighting system.
Furthermore, overgrown grass is appealing to rodents and bugs that you definitely don’t want to welcome on your property. They can be harmful to you or your pets and make the rest of your property unsafe to live in. Prevent these by performing regular garden or backyard maintenance, including mowing, weeding, washing, and applying the right amount of pesticides.
4. Careless storage
A cluttered space or room can bring nothing but chaos into your mental and physical health. By storing your things carelessly, you are inviting stress and pests into your life. Plus, it even leads to wasting a lot of time looking for specific items and having insufficient storage since you aren’t maximizing the space you have.
Change this habit and start decluttering and organizing your closets, cabinets, and other storage spaces regularly. Depending on the number of things and storage you have, you can do the cleaning and organization at least once a week or twice a month. It will also help if you can do an annual inspection of your things and assess what should be disposed of or donated.
Our home is our responsibility, so we got nothing to blame if something goes bad, whether it’s a leaky roof or a creaky door. With proper house maintenance, you can avoid costly repairs or replacements that could affect your budget. Regardless if you’re planning to sell it in the future or live there until your hair turns gray, regular upkeep can guarantee a safe, comfortable, and beautiful home to live in.
