Being a homeowner isn’t easy.
If you rented a home in the past, then the chances are that you had no idea how much maintenance you weren’t responsible for doing on your home. It’s not until you take full responsibility for a property that you start to see just how easily everything can fall apart.
While the price of living in Washington DC and surrounding areas might not be as significant as it is in other parts of the US, you can still do your part to keep fees down. Performing a few maintenance tasks now could mean that you save a fortune on costly replacements and repairs later. Here are just five of the things you can do to save some cash and improve your home at the same time.
1. Conduct an Energy Audit
The more energy you can save in your home, the more money you can potentially save too. Saving energy is as easy as turning down your thermostat by a degree or two during the winter, or keeping the air conditioning off for longer in the summer. However, before you can start to make really significant changes, it’s best to conduct an energy audit.
Most energy companies will offer a free energy audit to help you figure out where you’re wasting the most cash on a daily basis. Once you know where your money is going, it’s much easier to cut down.
2. Invest More into Thorough Cleaning
While it might seem like an in-depth cleaning service won’t have much to do with your monthly bills, the truth is that the more you clean, the more you can protect your home. Not only does cleaning get rid of dust and debris that’s clogging up your home, but it can also protect important components within your property too.
For instance, deep cleaning could mean that there’s less dust for your air conditioner to work through when it’s trying to circulate air around your property.
3. Don’t Ignore the Outside of your Home
Your garden, yard, or the general outside of your home isn’t just there to bring curb appeal to your property. Sometimes, walking around the outside of your home can tell you a lot about the kind of maintenance you need to do. For instance, a quick wander around the perimeter will tell you if you need to talk to a local professional about garden options and landscaping to give you more space outside.
When you’re outside, you can also potentially spot issues with things like exposed wood that might lead to rot inside of your home’s foundations, or insect infestations. Don’t be the last to know if a problem is growing from the outside in.
4. Check for Leaks
Leaks, whether they’re caused by your toilet, shower, faucets, or anything else in your home, can waste a lot of water very quickly. Checking for those leaks regularly can make it a lot easier to protect your property from broken pipes, moisture, and plumbing problems.
While some small leaks, like the ones happening with your bathroom faucets, might be simple enough to fix on your own, don’t attempt any major jobs without the input of a professional. Trying to deal with large amounts of plumbing alone could lead to some serious problems for your property.
5. Keep a Close Eye on your Roof
Finally, remember that your roof will usually need to be replaced every ten or twenty years, depending on the material that was used to create it. Regularly inspecting your roof allows you to see whether there’s any need for replacements or repairs before leaks and other issues arise.
If you think you spot something off with your roof, it’s probably a good idea to contact a professional, rather than climbing up there and trying to fix something yourself. Don’t put you or your family in danger.
Protect your Home
Your home is the most important (and valuable) asset that you’ll ever own.
Investing some extra time and effort into a few basic maintenance strategies throughout the year could help to protect you from bigger expenses further down the line. Don’t underestimate the value of good maintenance.
