When it comes to buying your own home, it is easy to focus on the initial expense, but, one thing that is often overlooked is the extra time and labour you should devote to maintaining the property – which will save you a headache down the line.
Just like getting your car regularly MOT’d to ensure it runs smoothly, frequent home maintenance protects you from future issues and unnecessary expenditure. This handy checklist will hopefully help to keep your house in tip-top shape for many years to come…
Take a look at the plumbing
Check the pipes under your sink for any slow leaks and make sure there are no water stains appearing on your walls or ceilings.
Check your chimney
These can sometimes get clogged up with dust and cobwebs which is a problem if it disrupts the free passage of combustion gas. Regularly sweeping your chimney will guarantee efficient and safe burning.
Test the detectors
Test your smoke alarm and carbon dioxide detectors and replace batteries regularly. With something this important, we recommend checking every six months.
A good Spring/Autumn clean
Give your house a deep clean approximately every six months to prevent dirt and grime from building up. Move the furniture around to tackle those hidden nooks that are real dust traps!
Assess the exterior drainage
Clean out gutters every year. Fallen leaves and debris can often build up, causing unwelcome blockages.
Tidy up the garden
Give the lawn a quick rake and clear any dead plants shrubs from the garden.
Safety first
Check that all locks and deadbolts are working correctly on your doors and windows.
Try out the house alarm
Whether or not you regularly put the alarm on, it is important that it is working correctly in case it is ever needed.
Look at the roof
Make sure there are no cracked, damaged or missing shingles which could lead to nasty leaks.
These are just a few tips for maintaining your home. While it may seem like an extensive list, regularly checking these areas will mean that you can catch problems early, preventing them from escalating, which will save you time and money.
The good news is that you can do the majority of this on your own without much experience. Make Google your best friend or buy a DIY book, and if you get really stuck call your local handy man!
We would be happy to recommend the necessary next steps for your home maintenance, get in touch with the friendly and helpful team today on 01484 682999.
