
Preventive maintenance is an important part of home ownership and a dollar spent now, could be many more dollars saved later.
RE/MAX put together a list of four tips on where home buyers can focus their efforts to help maintain and increase the value of their home.
Fight moisture. Moisture is a home’s number one enemy, so clean out your gutters seasonally and adequately caulk windows and doors. The refrigerator, water heater, HVAC, and other water-related appliances should be inspected annually. Leaky faucets should be fixed right away to avoid pipe erosion.
Strive for energy efficiency. Schedule a furnace inspection each year and replace filters to save money on energy bills. Besides efficiency, clean air is also a factor for allergies, asthma and other respiratory issues.
Curb appeal plays a big role in how well your investment sustains and grows over the years. Keep all shrubbery trimmed and regularly power-wash decks, driveways, and sidewalks to fight mold and give the property a clean appearance.
Plan ahead. It's a good idea to keep records and schedule maintenance. BrightNest is an app which provides how-to's, maintenance tips, and cleaning/organization schedules but there are others that might fit your needs.
Source: “Maintenance tips for protecting your biggest investment,” RE/MAX (Oct. 3, 2017)