Home Maintenance Tips That Will Help You Retain the Value of Your Home

Posted by: Miro | Post date: 26.11.21

When you look around it is interesting to see that many homes built hundreds of years ago are still standing today. What is even more notable is that their value over the years increased tremendously, resulting in the current worth being thousands or more times than the initial cost to build. 

The reason? Not only these houses were properly built but they have also been properly maintained. And, if continued with regular maintenance, they will remain in good condition for many years to come. Whether it’s making sure your existing components are kept in top shape or adding improvements to your home, proactive maintenance has the highest return on investment in the long run. 

Here are some tips on how to keep your home in tip-top shape. 

Leak Repairs

Water is probably one of the single, most destructive forces on a building. Leaks that are not resolved immediately cause far more financial damage to homes than all the other elements, including fire. And leaks can come from inside your home as well as from outside.

The biggest offender for interior water leaks is the hot water tank. Despite the warranty, all hot water tanks have a limited life span with ten years being the average. Flush the sediment at least annually to maintain tanks, more often if the water is a brown or reddish colour. It is useful to also examine your tank for the date of manufacture. It’s stamped on a metal plate or printed on a label. If your tank is approaching its “best before” date, consider replacing it before it fails without warning.

Moving outside, exterior water drainage is another high risk to structures. Clogged perimeter drains can be a costly repair and are easily prevented with yearly flushing of the perimeter drain system. You can either run a hose down the pipes or rent a “snake,” which is a mechanical tool for routing the drains.

Also keeping gutters clear of debris and moss can avoid water penetration into any weak or cracked render. 

Upgrading the roof

Replacing a roof is one of the costliest home improvement or home maintenance projects, but it’s inevitable and the more you keep an eye on it the better for your financial planning. Being meticulous when maintaining the roof is essential as you can significantly prolong its lifespan by preventative measures that are far less costly than the brand new roof. 

Heating Maintenance

Regular servicing of your heating system, including cleaning or replacing your filters, is a routine part of home maintenance and shouldn’t be overlooked as it can catch up to you when you least expect it and usually during the colder months of the year. It is recommended to check filters on a regular basis. You might want to schedule the check-ups during the warmer weather as during this time of the year the furnace is prone to dust, pollens and insects that find their way in. Servicing your boiler is also recommended – when selling your property it’s great to be able to provide the service history, like you would a car! 

Lowering your energy bills

Energy efficiency, especially in colder countries such as the UK, is a huge issue for most homeowners. The cost of heating a home, as well as the day-to-day operation of appliances, cooking and cleaning, should be very important to you as a potential buyer. Your home’s energy consumption record tells a lot about the operating costs, and it forms part of the overall homeownership budget that you might want to think of when buying a property. Most energy loss occurs from poor insulation, also known as air leakage. Having a look into double glazed windows, additional insulation or high-performance heaters will not only result in a warmer home during the cold months but also smaller energy bills in your letterbox. 

Painting time

There is no doubt that people shop visually and therefore the look of a freshly painted house can add to a feel as well as the value of the property. If chosen carefully, paint can also have a practical benefit to your home such as protecting the surfaces from the constantly changing weather conditions. 

Interior paint can preserve the property from daily use such as cooking, showering or children scratching or drawing on the walls. Although it might not be obvious to many, investing in higher-quality paint can make a big difference in the durability, as well as the visual effect. 

Regular appliance cleanup

Today, most appliances are considered fixtures that remain with the home and people rarely take out their appliances when selling the property. They’re part of the overall package, often including plumbed-in refrigerators and gas-attached ovens or hobs. Cleaning them regularly doesn’t only preserve the visual side but also increases the lifespan of the appliance. Stainless steel is hugely popular and needs special care to prevent marking, however when well-taken care of, stainless steel appliances are timeless pieces that suit most people’s taste. 

If conducted regularly, maintaining your property can be actually an easy and fairly brief routine which can result in a much higher valuation when selling the house. Small tasks of maintaining or repairing part of your home are often more financially manageable and don’t seem as overwhelming as the repair of the part of the house that has been neglected for years. 

If you are still searching for your dream home, get in touch with our expert team at Lawton & Dawe who will be able to support you with finding and choosing the right place for you.