Homeownership is a great step to take as a young adult. Homeowners save money on living costs in the long term and have access to certain tax benefits.
Purchasing a home is probably the biggest investment you’ll ever make. If you’re currently a homeowner or looking to become one, you should do everything you can to keep your home in the best shape possible. This will keep the value of your property high and make moving easier if you ever decide to.
To make your investment worthwhile, consider these 4 ways to maintain your home’s value.
1) Increase Curb Appeal
The outside of your house acts as a first impression. Fix any broken light fixtures or loose side railings. In addition to repairing odds and ends in the front yard, consider performing these chores to liven up your yard:
- Cut back overgrown plants and shrubs.
- Pressure wash walkways, decks, sidewalks, and your house’s exterior.
- Plant inexpensive flowers in pots or a garden area.
- Spray weed killer to curb the growth of unsightly plants.
Completing these tasks only requires some basic gardening tools and a couple of hours of your time.
If there are some foreclosed homes in the neighborhood, don’t allow them to compromise your home’s value. Take initiative and tend to these homes yourself. You can pull weeds, remove dead plants, and mow the lawn. If it’s too much to complete on your own, recruit the help of neighbors who also want to maintain their homes’ values.
2) Enlist a Professional When Required
Sure, it can be rewarding to complete routine maintenance and repairs on your own. It can also be cheaper, as you don’t have to pay labor costs.
However, if you’re experiencing a problem that can compromise your house’s structural integrity, enlist a professional. All Dry USA, an experienced company that performs damage restoration services, warns against putting off repairs.
Consider recruiting a professional for help with:
- Leak detection and restoration.
- Storm, fire, and water damage restoration.
- Mold remediation.
Attending to issues like these early on will preserve your home’s value and prevent serious issues from arising.
Repairing these issues is important, but doing so isn’t cheap. The National Association of Realtors suggests setting aside $500 every month. This way, you’ll be prepared in the event that a pricey home repair is needed.
3) Deep Clean Regularly
Don’t wait until the weeks leading up to moving day to perform a deep clean. Doing so can make the job much more difficult and produce less-than-ideal results.
Every month or so, you should:
- Clean air vents.
- Wash doors and walls.
- Deep clean hardwood and tile flooring.
- Clean the oven.
- Dust light fixtures and wall hangings.
Adjust your cleaning based on what you have in your home.
Engaging in regular cleaning reduces mold, increases sanitation, and keeps pest away. If you don’t have the time to clean yourself, consider hiring a maid service.
4) Paint Consistently
Experts recommend painting the outside of your house every 5 to 10 years. The previous paint job and your area’s climate can alter how often your home’s exterior needs to be repainted.
Give the same attention to the inside of your house. It’s recommended to paint the inside of a home every 5 to 7 years. When you do so, try to stick with neutral colors. Neutral colors are great to have when selling a house. Potential buyers can use your home’s neutral color scheme to picture their furniture in it.
Bottom Line
While some of these tasks may seem expensive or daunting, they are financially beneficial in the long run! Plus, you’ll have a structurally-sound and inviting place you’ll be proud to call home.
Photo Credit
Photo is pixabay creative commons
Guest Author Bio
Trenton J. Smith
Trenton is an aspiring writer who loves to research and write about a wide variety of topics. When he is not writing, he enjoys gardening and long walks with his dog Boomer.
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