How to Save Money and Increase Your Home's Value with Maitenance

By Jeff Adolph

Residential Real Estate

When you buy a home it is vital that you carry out regular maintenance in order to retain its original value, otherwise you risk reducing any equity that you may have gained with the home's purchase. Plus, keeping your home in good order will also reduce your repair costs in the future and allow you to have more money to spend on home improvements, or other pursuits that you enjoy.

Therefore, in order to protect your investment's value and make home maintenance as painless as possible, in a monetary and time sense, it is important that you carry out routine checks and home repairs on a regular basis.

By carrying out home maintenance yourself you also save considerably on the cost of professional fees and it enables you to know and understand more about your home and its overall condition.

Here are some regular must do's to maintain your home and save you dollars.

Annual Maintenance

1) Service air-conditioning and replace unit filters.

2) Service home heating and replace any filters in the unit.

3) Check all faucets in the home for leaks and replace any fittings if needed.

4) Check and replace any weather stripping.

5) Check and replace any loose singles.

6) Replace batteries in smoke detectors.

7) If the weather is dry, keep the foundation of your home moist to prevent cracking and movement.

8) Check all wet areas and re-chalk any perished filler to prevent moisture from entering into the cracks.

9) Check your attic for any water or animal damage.

10) Check any tiled surfaces and re-grout if needed.

11) Check outside your home for any damage to windows and door frames, and then check that all opening mechanisms are in good working order.

12) Check all garage door latches and mechanisms.

Seasonal Maintenance

1) Check smoke alarms.

2) Remove any leaf-litter from your home's gutters.

3) Wrap your home's outside pipes to reduce freezing in winter and remove the garden hose from the faucet.

4) Test your Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter if you have these.

5) Check your home for any weather damage, and take note of exterior finishes that may need painting.  

Article Source: Trulia.com (2009) Keep $ in Your Pocket - Preventative Maintenance; available online at www.trulia.com 

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By Jeff Adolph

Residential Real Estate

When you buy a home it is vital that you carry out regular maintenance in order to retain its original value, otherwise you risk reducing any equity that you may have gained with the home's purchase. Plus, keeping your home in good order will also reduce your repair costs in the future and allow you to have more money to spend on home improvements, or other pursuits that you enjoy.

Therefore, in order to protect your investment's value and make home maintenance as painless as possible, in a monetary and time sense, it is important that you carry out routine checks and home repairs on a regular basis.

By carrying out home maintenance yourself you also save considerably on the cost of professional fees and it enables you to know and understand more about your home and its overall condition.

Here are some regular must do's to maintain your home and save you dollars.

Annual Maintenance

1) Service air-conditioning and replace unit filters.

2) Service home heating and replace any filters in the unit.

3) Check all faucets in the home for leaks and replace any fittings if needed.

4) Check and replace any weather stripping.

5) Check and replace any loose singles.

6) Replace batteries in smoke detectors.

7) If the weather is dry, keep the foundation of your home moist to prevent cracking and movement.

8) Check all wet areas and re-chalk any perished filler to prevent moisture from entering into the cracks.

9) Check your attic for any water or animal damage.

10) Check any tiled surfaces and re-grout if needed.

11) Check outside your home for any damage to windows and door frames, and then check that all opening mechanisms are in good working order.

12) Check all garage door latches and mechanisms.

Seasonal Maintenance

1) Check smoke alarms.

2) Remove any leaf-litter from your home's gutters.

3) Wrap your home's outside pipes to reduce freezing in winter and remove the garden hose from the faucet.

4) Test your Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter if you have these.

5) Check your home for any weather damage, and take note of exterior finishes that may need painting.  

Article Source: Trulia.com (2009) Keep $ in Your Pocket - Preventative Maintenance; available online at www.trulia.com 

------------------------------------------------------------------

© 2006+ Jeff Adolph GayRealEstate USA

Proudly Sponsored By:

Comments

[real estate brochures]

Hi,

I really have to agree with your post. DIY improvements and maintenance keep the home working efficiently and saves on utility costs.