Owning a property is a key stage in life and is one of the most expensive purchases any adult will make in their lifetime. It is estimated that the average cost of a house in America is around $428,000. This represents an immense financial investment and will require a down payment on the property to secure it and arrange a mortgage. Homeowners will know that it can be extremely beneficial to have a basic working knowledge of property maintenance. This can range from understanding how to bleed a radiator to fixing small cracks or damage to brickwork. It is often worthwhile to take the time to learn some basic property maintenance knowledge so that you do not need to call out a tradesman for smaller jobs and, therefore, save money. In this article, three basic property maintenance tips will be discussed in detail.
Take Care of Outdoor Areas
The outdoor areas of the property are the first features that people see when they visit your home. If you are planning to sell your home soon, it is important to ensure that these areas look in perfect condition and give your home high levels of “kerb appeal” to prospective buyers. Garden areas are remarkably easy to maintain. Keeping the lawns trimmed is easy to achieve, and by using a multipurpose lawn feed product, you can ensure that weeds and mosses are kept at a minimum and the grass stays lush and green. Keep any perimeter fencing well maintained, as old or broken fencing can spoil the overall look of the outdoor areas. Consider repainting or replacing the fencing if it is in a state of disrepair.
In the Event of Water Damage
Water damage can be caused by a burst pipe or a faulty home appliance, such as a washing machine or dishwasher. Water damage can be costly to repair if it is not dealt with quickly, so it is of paramount importance to act fast in the event of a leak or malfunctioning appliance. Make sure you know where your main water shut-off valve is located so that you can cut the water supply to your home in the event of any flooding and minimize any damage. Often, these are located in the basement of a home or under a main kitchen sink. If your carpets have been affected by the leak, it is important to contact carpet cleaning professionals, such as refreshcarpetcleaning.com.au, who are experienced in treating water-damaged carpets and can use a range of specialist equipment to clean and dry the carpet, restoring it to a perfect condition.
Inspect Your Roof
It is extremely beneficial to get into the habit of inspecting your roof regularly. Take a thorough look at all the roof areas every month or two, and especially after there have been strong winds or storms. If you identify that some roofing tiles have come loose or have broken, it is then a question of determining if you are competent to fix or replace them yourself. If you are not confident in such DIY tasks, it is vitally important to get a professional tradesman to fix the issue. Remember that missing roof tiles can be a point of access for the rain to get into your home and can cause expensive water damage to the structure of the property over time.