Investing in home maintenance is more crucial than ever, given the current state of our housing market. According to a recent study from Harvard University, there is a great need to preserve the aging housing stock. When we further invest in home preservation, it not only minimizes losses but supports in retaining community and neighborhood home values.
Whether it’s cleaning gutters, painting the walls, or fixing a leaky faucet, consistent upkeep ensures that your living space is safe, comfortable, and attractive. Here are five top tips for maintaining your home:
1. Create a schedule
The first step in maintaining your home is to create a schedule for routine cleaning and maintenance. Create a simple spreadsheet or calendar that outlines tasks that need to be done daily, weekly, monthly, or seasonally. This could include things like cleaning the bathrooms, vacuuming carpets, changing air filters, or inspecting the roof. A schedule can help you stay organized and ensure that nothing gets overlooked.
2. Proper ventilation
Making sure your home is well-ventilated is vital for keeping your family safe and healthy. It’s easy for homes to build up harmful pollutants like mold, dust, and carbon monoxide gas without adequate ventilation. To ensure your home is properly ventilated, clean your air filters and ducts regularly. You could also consider installing a whole-house fan or an air exchange system to improve airflow.
3. Keep an eye on the exterior
It’s essential to take care of the exterior of your home too. Regularly inspect your roof, siding, and windows for any damage. If there are issues, make repairs quickly to prevent further damage. Additionally, keep an eye on the trees and vegetation surrounding your home. Overhanging branches can cause damage to your roof or siding, and excess foliage can block gutters and drainage.
4. Attend to small repairs
Sometimes, it’s easy to ignore small repairs, like a leaky faucet or a loose doorknob. But the longer you wait, the more significant the problem may become. Take care of small repairs as soon as possible to prevent them from turning into more significant, more expensive issues. Regularly checking for loose or faulty wiring can also prevent electrical problems down the road.
5. Be proactive
Being proactive is crucial when it comes to home maintenance. Regularly inspecting your home’s interior and exterior can give you an early warning of potential problems. For example, if you notice a musty smell in your basement, it could indicate that there’s mold growing. An early inspection can help you catch this issue before it becomes a severe health hazard. By being proactive and addressing issues early on, you can save yourself time and money in the long run.
In summary, home maintenance is essential for keeping your living space safe, comfortable, and attractive. Creating a schedule, maintaining proper ventilation, attending to the exterior, taking care of small repairs, and being proactive are all vital steps in keeping your home well-maintained. To help keep your maintenance costs down, seek out resources like your local Habitat for Humanity Restore, where you can find home repair supplies at 50%-70% off retail prices.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your home stays in tip-top shape for years to come.