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Home Maintenance Tasks You Should Add To Your 2023 Resolutions

HOME MAINTENANCE TASKS YOU SHOULD ADD TO YOUR 2023 RESOLUTIONS
 January 2, 2023 |  Home Maintenance, DIY, Cleaning Tips |  roof, chimney, windows, home exterior, lawn care, HVAC

Every new year, people rack their brains about what their New Year’s Resolution should be. Should I make it a goal to lose weight this year? Should I spend more time with my family? Maybe read more? Get more organized?

Personal resolutions are great, and this time period is a great opportunity to make moves toward self improvement. However, it seems that too many people are missing an opportunity to make a resolution related to almost definitely their most valuable fiscal investment: their home.

This year, resolve to take better care of your home by practicing good home maintenance! Your home works hard to take good care of you, return the favor by starting with these simple steps.

Know Your Home
An easy way to start off with home maintenance is to make sure you set aside between 1% and 4% of your home’s value for home maintenance. Some call this the “Home Maintenance Rule of Thumb,” this is meant to be an easy-to-follow budgeting strategy to make sure home maintenance tasks aren’t neglected. These smaller maintenance tasks will save you money in the long run, as you avoid the more costly breakdowns that can occur without regular maintenance.

With your fund expectations in mind, you should start your year with a home tour. Just as if you were a new homebuyer, pretend you were on the market again and survey your home, walking from room to room as though it was the first time. What aspects of your home would give you pause? What needs updating? Be as objective as possible to get the most value out of this practice. Make note of things like curling shingles on your roof, check for water damage in your basement or in your attic, and watch for telltale signs of infestation.

Even better, schedule your yearly home maintenance inspection as soon as possible. Home inspectors not only provide an unbiased, fresh perspective on your home, they are trained experts that know where and what to look for. When checking for signs of defects and damage that need your most immediate attention, a home inspector is your best bet to get your home maintenance schedule back on track.

Closely Monitor Your Key Systems
Every house consists of a few key systems that are the most important to a well-functioning home (and the most costly to repair). To ensure a more costly repair or replacement isn’t necessary, prioritize consistent weekly, monthly, or seasonal tasks to mitigate mounting damage.

For your roof, make sure to clean your gutters on a yearly basis. When clogged, water overflow can lead to considerable water damage to your roof, to interior systems, and even to your foundation. Your heating and air conditioning systems are similarly crucial to a comfortable living space. Yearly maintenance should be conducted by a professional prior to each system’s respective season, and homeowners should change filters every 90 days. This simple, 5-minute task is essential to prolonging the lifespan of these systems.

Repair and Maintain Your Appliances
Your appliances have a limited lifespan, but your proactivity can extend that timeframe considerably. Clean your refrigerators, ovens, and dryers every three months, and your dishwashers and washers every month. Monitor ice buildup in your freezer units and always check your pipes for leaks.

To get ahead of safety concerns, regularly check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors using their “test” buttons, and change batteries as needed. In addition, clogged dryer vents can become fire hazards. Reduce excess debris accumulation as much as possible and be sure to arrange for a professional cleaning once a year.

Add tasks to your home maintenance to-do list according to what your home most needs, and to match your unique situation. With your list set up, you have a headstart on your 2023 home maintenance journey.

For more advice on which home maintenance tasks should be on your radar, contact your local National Property Inspections expert for more information!