Owning a home can be expensive, especially when unexpected repair costs creep up from seemingly minor projects. Upgrades and repairs can quickly escalate if you can’t predict potential issues with your property.
As a house owner, you must stay proactive rather than relying on a landlord in case of any malfunction.
Water leaks, faulty appliances and other issues are inevitable and likely to occur sooner or later. Being financially unprepared when these issues arise can be problematic. Therefore, it might be wise to implement some preventive measures now to avoid substantial repairs in the future.
In some cases, investing money upfront to save in the long term can play out well, and this applies to home repairs and minor improvements as well.
Maintaining your property now can be a major money-saver in the future. Here’s how you can achieve this with basic home repairs:
1. CAULKING YOUR WINDOWS:
Re-caulking your windows, both inside and outside, is essential for sealing, preventing energy loss, and tackling moisture issues. Caulk can wear out over time and if you notice it discolouring or detaching from your windows, it’s time for reapplication. This is an affordable and straightforward task – simply remove the old caulk, buy some budget-friendly caulk at a home improvement store and apply it. This will contribute towards future energy savings.
2. INSTALL LOW-FLOW FAUCETS AND SHOWERHEADS:
Upon purchasing our property, the first renovation we made was installing low-flow faucets and shower heads across the house. This not only saves water but also lowers electric bills. With low-flow options, you can still enjoy a good shower without wasting extra water or energy. We bought a shower head with a water filter that uses a third less water than the average one. This fixture added an eco-friendly touch to our house and offered real savings.
3. INSPECT FOR WATER LEAKS:
Regular inspection for water leaks in your house is vital. Look for roof leaks or other signs of water damage. Detecting and fixing a problem early can prevent major problems and save you money.
4. SERVICING HOME APPLIANCES:
Servicing all your home appliances can improve their efficiency. This includes cleaning coils under the fridge, cleaning your dryer vent regularly, washing the exhaust filter over your stove, and cleaning the filters on your dishwasher and washing machine.
5. SWITCH TO CFL BULBS:
If you haven’t done so already, switch to Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) bulbs when your existing bulbs burn out. Even though it may not seem like a big repair, it’s an energy-efficient choice and the upfront cost is quite low.
6. INVESTING TO SAVE:
Occasionally, spending extra on a quality product can save money in the long run. For example, when our previous water heater unexpectedly broke, we bought a new energy-efficient model which reduced our electricity bill dramatically.
7. REVIEW YOUR APPLIANCES:
Evaluate the need for that second refrigerator or deep freezer in your garage. If it’s not necessary, consider selling it to save on electricity consumption.
Don’t neglect your air conditioning unit, and ensure it’s debris-free regularly to prevent costly repairs.
By being proactive and investing in preventative measures, you can avoid expensive repairs, save money, and keep your house in top condition. Crucially, most of these preventative measures and repairs require minimal financial investment and a touch of effort, so why not get started? Owning a home is undoubtedly worth the little extra maintenance required.
What are some regular maintenance tasks you carry out to prevent small issues from turning into major ones? Which of these projects will you take up next?
