Buying a house can be a lot of stress and hassle, but it’s also a big achievement, and it can be the culmination of years of hard work, saving, and putting plans in place. Of course, it’s important for all homeowners (and potential homeowners) to understand that just because you’ve put in all this effort and finally signed on the dotted line to get your house, that’s not the end of the hard work. In fact, it never ends, and if you want your property to stand the test of time and be somewhere you enjoy living, you’ll need to be as proactive as possible about your home maintenance. There are many reasons why this is a good idea – perhaps even a necessity – so keep reading to find out what they are so you’re prepared for the work you’ll need to put in once you’re a homeowner.
Prevents Costly Repairs
One of the most important reasons to be more proactive when it comes to home maintenance is that it can help you avoid some costly repairs. If you ignore what looks like small issues, like a leaky tap, a loose roof tile, or a crack in your wall, it might be that the end result is a bigger problem that causes even more damage, costs a lot to fix, and takes a lot of time to get sorted.
The last thing you’ll want is for something that would have been a simple fix initially to turn into something complex and expensive if it’s left unattended, so it’s best not to do that at all – just in case. By regularly inspecting your home and putting right these small issues as you spot them, you can nip potential problems in the bud quickly and easily and save yourself a lot of money down the road. And if you’re not comfortable doing the work yourself, don’t forget that you can hire professionals such as a roofing contractor to help you. Although you’ll need to pay for their services, it will be more cost-effective if you get their help sooner rather than later, so again, it’s going to be something that essentially saves you money.
Increases Property Value
Although you might not think of it that way when you’ve just moved in, or if you’re planning to stay in a house for as long as you can – the rest of your life, in other words – the fact is that any time you buy property, whether you live in it or not, it’s an investment. Or rather, it should be an investment. And with all investments, although you’ll hope the price will go up so you can more out of it than you put in, when it comes to property, there are many things you might be doing (or not doing) that could cause the price to go down, and you’ll lose value in your home.
The more constant repair and upkeep you can do for your property, the more likely it is that it will retain or, ideally, increase its value over time. When it comes time to sell, potential buyers are sure to be more attracted to a well-maintained home than one that needs lots of work, so they’ll be willing to pay more for it in most cases – it’s much more convenient for them in the long run.
If you think that proactive maintenance is all about keeping your home nice for the next people to live there, that’s only part of the story, and although there is a grain of truth to the idea, don’t forget that if you keep your home looking and feeling attractive and safe, you’ll benefit while you live there too.
Better Energy Efficiency
At a time when everyone wants to be as energy-efficient as possible, it can be hard to know where to start or what to do. But when you consider that as well as being a great thing for the environment (which is positive in itself, of course), you can save money when your home is more energy-efficient, this could be the best place to start, and regular, proactive maintenance is a good idea.
When you’re proactive about your home’s maintenance, you’ll do things like having your HVAC unit serviced, sealing up cracks and gaps when you see them or feel a draft, and checking your insulation in case it needs replacing at any point. When you do all of this and more, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint and cut down on your energy bills, so it’s positive no matter what way you look at it.
Home Safety
If there’s one thing that will often come at the top of the list when homeowners are listing out important elements, it’s safety. No one is ever going to be able to relax and enjoy their home if it never feels quite safe because there’s work to do or things are being neglected. Proactive maintenance helps to keep your home safe; you’ll know about faulty wiring (and you’ll get an electrician to repair it, rather than trying to do it yourself), you’ll know if your chimney is blocked, you’ll know if your windows are loose in their frames or the carpets are loose around doorways. You’ll know about anything that might cause an accident or be dangerous in any way, in other words.
You’ll know about this thanks to the regular inspections you make around your home, and you’ll also know what steps to take next. As we mentioned above, sometimes, whatever the issue is will need professionals to put it right, but in some cases, you’ll be able to do it yourself. You’ll need to consider how dangerous the job is (roofing and electrics are prime examples of when it’s much safer to get experts to do the work) and what your skills are, but no matter what, the repairs should be made as quickly as possible.
Less Stress
We mentioned at the start that buying a home can be stressful, so why prolong that stress and make living in that home difficult as well? The constant worry of finding a problem in the house that takes you by surprise isn’t fun, especially if it’s when you’re in a vulnerable position – what it’s storming when you discover you’ve got a leaky roof? What if it’s a cold night when you find your fire doesn’t work?
It’s far better to be proactive and not allow these issues to take you by surprise. In that way, you can enjoy your home much more and feel in control.
What do you think?