Everyday Maintenance the Key to Home Value

It’s easy to get so comfy in our homes that we overlook the odds and ends that need occasional attention. Life gets busy, yards get overgrown, faucets leak, windows get drafty… but being proactive and prompt with home maintenance will undoubtedly save you big money, as much as ten percent of the home’s value, in the long run.

According to U.S. News and World Report*, homeowners will spend between 1 and 4 percent of a home’s value annually. Skimping on these costs can lead to an overall depreciation in value. Get ahead of the problem by changing furnace filters, and replacing sagging gutters and drafty windows.

Houses built before 1980 tend to be under-insulated, so updating with energy-efficient features is a good place to start. Having a home inspection can also be helpful in identifying issues before they become real problems. Roofs are often overlooked and should be monitored.

Looks may not be everything, but curb appeal says a lot about a home and the state it’s in. Be sure to keep yards clean and well kept, with paint, windows, doors, and porches in efficient and aesthetic condition. It can be as simple as pressure washing and mowing the lawn or repainting and replacing the deck, but whatever the need, doing it sooner rather than later pays off in the end.

*“Look at Maintenance Costs Before Leading Into Homeownership,” Rachel Koning Beals, May 29, 2012