Happy Home Insider“Home Maintenance is the best!” … Said no one… EVER. Unfortunately, it is a necessary, albeit annoying, part of being a homeowner. That being said, when times are tight, it’s nice to make sure your home remains top notch without having to pay top dollar.
One way effective way to keep home maintenance expenses to a minimum is simply to keep a close eye on your homes overall condition. We’re not suggesting that you become a certified city inspector, but an occasional once (or twice) over will help you to identify potential issues that need to be addressed. One detail in particular to keep an eye out for are cracks in the foundation. While small, hairline cracks are a somewhat ordinary occurrence, it’s important to note them and keep watch to see if they begin to get larger. Take a small pen or marker and make a small mark across the crack; if over time you begin to notice that mark moving apart, then you know it’s time to call in a foundation expert. Catching, identifying, and fixing cracks in the foundation of your home, can mean the difference between a couple hundred bucks and a couple thousand bucks coming out of your pocket.
Utilizing Caulk can also help you to save a ton of money in the long run. Caulk is a waterproof sealant that you can get at almost any home or hardware store for around $20-$25. Caulk is used to fill in openings and prevent moisture from getting into your home’s walls, where it can potentially turn into rot and even mold. Caulking corners of frames, windows, and any area where an opening might be exposed to moisture, is advisable in order to avoid far more costly issues that require serious professional intervention in the future.
Regularly cleaning your rain gutters is yet another excellent home maintenance practice that will lead to more money in your pocket and less being spent on expensive repair bills. When it rains leaves and other debris may become lodged in your rain gutters; over time this debris and gunk accumulate causing rainfall to overflow and ultimately cause damage to the exterior of your house. If left unattended for a long enough period of time, the damage may become serious enough that it may even cause structural damage. Sounds scary, I know; but the good news is that it can be easily avoided by simple routine rain gutter cleanings.
Another way to cut maintenance costs at home is to regularly perform a basic check of your HVAC system. All too often, new homeowners make the rookie mistake of neglecting their HVAC function- don’t fall into this trap! It’s an easy system take for granted until it begins presenting you with problems and suddenly, you find yourself buried under a pile of bills. Give your HVAC system the care it deserves by regularly checking its efficiency and functionality.
