How To Keep Your Home in Peak Condition
For more people, a house is one of the most expensive purchases they’ll make during their lifetime. Most people spend years saving up for a down payment and building the financial credit history required to qualify for a mortgage. Once you can afford to buy your own house, you won’t want to let your home fall into disrepair.
Maintaining your home can seem like a full-time job. Home maintenance is expensive, but your costs will increase if home systems break down and damage valuable items inside your home or other systems. Fortunately, you can use some simple strategies to protect your possessions and keep your home in excellent condition.
Invest in a home warranty plan.
A home warranty is a warranty plan that protects your home systems, appliances, or both. You can find a reputable home warranty company in your region by Googling “home warranty companies in Texas,” or wherever you’re living. Look for a home warranty company with reviews on their website and a good rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). With a home warranty plan, you’ll enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing you won’t be caught off-guard by unexpected repair costs if one of your home’s critical systems or appliances breaks down.
You can choose between multiple home warranty plans. You might opt to invest in the systems plan if your home has older appliances. The systems plan covers your plumbing, electrical, water heater, air conditioner, heater, and ductwork. Once you buy new appliances, you could opt to expand your plan to cover critical appliances, such as your refrigerator, dryer, washer, and dishwasher.
When a system or appliance covered on your home warranty plan breaks down, you can file a claim with your home warranty company. The company will send a technician to your home. The technician determines what repairs are required, confirms your warranty covers the repairs, and performs the repairs.
Maintain your home’s systems and appliances.
Homes need seasonal maintenance. Homeowners can prevent their home’s systems and appliances from breaking down by ensuring appropriate maintenance is performed throughout the year. For example, if your gutters are clogged with leaves and debris, water can pool on your home’s roof. When this happens, the water can seep through your roof and enter your home. Water can cause mold growth and rot support beams, floors, walls, and ceilings inside your home. Mold growth can cause health problems, and it’s expensive to remove mold once it spreads throughout your home. If your bedroom ceiling rots and falls, it could destroy the furniture it lands on, such as your dresser or nightstand. You’ll also have to spend money repairing your ceiling.
Pay for homeowners insurance.
Purchasing homeowners insurance is another way to protect your property. Homeowners insurance can cover the cost of critical repairs if your home’s damaged in a storm. You won’t have to worry about a tree branch damaging your roof or a baseball shattering a window with an insurance plan in place. With homeowners insurance, you’ll be able to afford repairs and prevent further damage to your property.
Invest in household safety.
You can protect your possessions and your house by investing in pest control. Termites extract wood from support beams, floors, walls, and wood furniture, while rodents can chew through electrical wires and start house fires.
Installing smoke detectors will also help protect your home from fires. If you install a home alarm, you’ll deter thieves from attempting a break-in, and you’ll also protect your home from fires. Security camera systems can respond when your home’s fire alarm is triggered and alert the fire department, which speeds the response time in the event of a fire.
Investing in your garage and bedroom organization is another way to maintain your home. When your belongings are scattered throughout your home, they may cause damage. For example, it’s important to store flammable items in a safe space. It isn’t appropriate to keep paint thinner in your bedroom or kitchen, but you can store paint thinner in a cool, dry garage or basement that has good ventilation. Disorganization in any room of your home could result in covered vents, making it harder for your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to heat or cool your home. Consequently, your HVAC system will work harder to reach the temperature set on your thermostat, increasing your electric bills and decreasing the lifespan of your HVAC unit. Flammable items set near heaters and electrical outlets can also cause fires.
Investing in a home warranty plan and homeowners insurance are effective ways of protecting your home, home’s systems, and appliances from damage. You can also keep your home in excellent condition by scheduling seasonal maintenance and investing in your home’s safety.