2020 Home Maintenance Resolutions

 

 

Homes need continuous maintenance to keep them in good condition. I recently had a Seller comment, when preparing their home for sale, that he was surprised how easy it was to do some of the simple repairs or improvements needed to be done before putting the home on the market. Even though he felt he didn't have many skills for making home improvements such as re-grouting, hanging new window blinds or patching drywall, he discovered that many things needing to be done are so easy and he'll be sure to keep on top of things in his next home.

Here are some maintenance items you may want to consider tackling in the coming year.

1. Interior
If you invest time in some simple maintenance, you can keep the inside of your home looking like new. Some tasks your home may need include repainting the walls, restripping and resealing wood, or restaining trim and built-ins. Some more complicated repairs may involve replacing worn or outdated floors or rebuilding fixtures.

2. Exterior
Taking time each year to maintain the exterior of your home will help ensure your home doesn’t take in excessive damage-causing moisture. Some tasks you should complete each year include cleaning and repairing your gutters/downspouts, inspecting and repairing your roof, and repainting, cleaning, and repairing your home’s siding, rafters/fascia and trim boards.

3. Systems
Part of keeping your home in good condition is ensuring your systems are running safely. Cleaning your chimney flue, replacing air filters, and other inspection and cleaning projects can keep your home and family safe by helping to prevent floods and fires caused by poorly maintained systems.

4. Landscaping
Keeping your outdoor structures and landscaping in good condition is also important. Keep an eye out for erosion issues, rodent infestations via crawl space access through torn foundation vent screens, and dangerous tree limbs hanging over the roof. You should also refinish your deck, fence, and other wood structures semi-annually.

Experts indicate homeowners should plan to invest one to four percent of your home’s value in maintenance costs each year to avoid losing home value!  

Adapted from RE/MAX LeadStreet Newsletter