Despite the economic hardships brought on by the pandemic, the residential real estate marker is doing surprisingly well. More and more people are buying new homes, with the sales of residential properties in August 43 percent higher than it was the same month the previous year.
Experts believe this increase in sales was driven by people vacating the congested cities for suburban communities and first-time homebuyers capitalizing on the work-from-home arrangements made necessary by the pandemic.
If you’re one of these first-time homebuyers, you may be more than a little daunted by the immense responsibility of keeping your home free from damage and decay.
Below is a comprehensive list of home maintenance tasks you need to keep on top of when you own a house.
Exteriors
The outside of your home is vast and includes your roof, gutters and walls. Your home’s curb appeal relies on the condition of your home’s exterior so if you’re thinking of flipping your property, it’s best to pay attention to its maintenance. Here are some important maintenance tasks for exteriors.
- Clean your roof gutters every two weeks or once a week during autumn. This prevents debris from clogging and your roof from leaking.
- Repaint your walls every two years to prevent the accumulation of stains and dirt from spoiling the appearance of your home.
- Climb up on the roof and check its integrity once every season. Time and the weather can do some serious damage if you leave it unattended.
- Check for cracks on pavements and potholes on asphalt, especially after winter. Cold temperature freezes moisture inside the asphalt which inflates and turns to potholes when it thaws.
Heat and Air
Your home’s central heating and air conditioning systems are among the most complicated parts of the property. They require delicate care and constant attention. Although you can call a furnace repair company or an HVAC specialist if the worst happens, it’s better to prevent the damage from happening in the first place.
- Keep air vents and exhaust free from debris and dust. These particles can accumulate and eventually choke the system if you leave them for long.
- Clean your air conditioning unit’s filter once a week. These screens can be easily detached and cleaned with a brush or a wet rag.
- Avoid stressing either your air conditioning units or your furnace. If you must raise or decrease the temperature drastically, make sure to do so for only brief periods.
- Regularly consult professionals about the state of your furnace or your air conditioning. This will help prevent your systems from breaking down completely at inopportune moments and might delay the time you’ll have to replace them completely.
Yard and Lawn
The plant life and yard surrounding your home is the other half of what improves its curb appeal. Having a nice lawn around your property can drastically increase the price of your home.
Here are some of the most important tasks you need to remember to keep your yard and lawn thriving.
- Trim your lawn once a week, but not too short. Tall grass fosters growth of mold and invites ticks while lawns that are too short parches the earth and leads to unsightly browning.
- Leave a little of your lawn clippings where it falls. This will help nourish the ground. Make sure you spread these clippings evenly to avoid creating homes for pests.
- Oil your lawn mower blades to keep them sharp and prevent rusting. Blunted blades result in uneven and unsightly laws, like a bad haircut.
- Monitor how much you water your lawn. You can heavily soak your property with an inch of water, which can last up to three days. This will help you conserve water and prevent mold and fungi from growing on the damp soil.
Electricity
Your home’s electrical system is incredibly complicated and must be monitored carefully. Over 24,000 homes in the United States suffered from electrical fires in just two years. If you want to avoid damaging your lovely home and appliances from an accidental fire, here are a few things you need to remember.
- Unplug all electronics during storms or similar events. The electricity may surge, and your devices can overload, leading to explosions and sparks.
- Have your home’s wiring checked by a home inspector once every five years. If you bought a home more than a decade old, have them check your wiring once a year instead.
- Cover all your unused electrical outlets to prevent insects from building colonies inside the wiring and children from accidentally probing them.
Maintaining a home can be a challenge but with the right checklist, you’ll find that it gets easier over time. Home maintenance is a skill like any other and you just need a little practice and the correct guidance to excel in it.