5 THINGS YOU SHOULD DO TO MAINTAIN YOUR HOME’S VALUE
Once you buy a house, you need to keep it in shape! Your home is one of your biggest investments in life, and you want to protect it as well as improve it. Not just so you can live in a safe and comfortable home, but so you can retain (or increase) it’s value when it’s time to sell later in life. So to keep everything in check, here’s five things you should remember.
1. First impression lasts.
Curb appeal is critically important—your front yard and entrance is the first thing buyers would see. Neglected lawns, broken fences, dirty driveways and rusty windows aren’t inviting at all. And if you’re selling in the near future, you’ll lose half the battle before buyers even walk in the door!
Keep the lawn maintained, repair fences, repaint anything that could do with a new coat and basically fix problems before they’re a problem. Make sure that buyers would be impressed by your property before they even come inside.
2. Give it an upgrade.
If it makes financial sense, doing some home upgrades will actually add value to your home, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms. Nobody wants an outdated kitchen, and they also don’t want to buy a to-do list.
Some quick tips - in the kitchen, invest in energy-saving appliances, replace old cabinets and countertops. In the bathroom, make sure that everything works, especially water fixtures and consider replacing the flooring or adding a nice mirror.
3. Take care of the pipes.
Speaking of water fixtures, making sure your house’s plumbing system is working properly will not only maintain your home’s value, but also saves you a lot of money and effort from potential repairs. It’s one of those things you want to do before you’re forced to do it.
Also - prevent too much oil and fat from going to your kitchen pipes to prevent clogging. Refrain from using drain cleaners with strong chemicals as it can damage pipes and cause leaks. (Quick tip - as substitute, you can a mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and hot water.)
4. Have a checklist.
To make it easy for you, make a checklist of everything you should regularly inspect. Do it from inside to outside—each of the rooms and then the exterior of the house and the yard. Do they need repair?
Do this at least once a quarter (more often if you’re selling soon), so even if there are some repairs needed to be done, they’re relatively minimal and won’t make that much dent in your budget. (Pro tip: Set aside some money for monthly maintenance in your budget. This is even more relevant for investment properties.
5. Check all the appliances work correctly.
Aside from repairs, check every appliance and system in the house to see if they work. Air conditioning? Water pressure? Appliances? Any leaks? Have a list of these things as well to make life easier.
Sometimes home maintenance isn’t the most fun thing in the world - but it’s definitely worth it. Being proactive here will make sure your home holds as much value as possible and saves you from expensive repairs down the track. We’re all about you getting the best value for your home — if you want to know what your home might be worth, don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help or advice!
