| Caring for your home is part of the pride and joy of | | | | your paint three to four years. The plumbing may last |
| home ownership. Taking good care of your home | | | | for twenty-five years, and your electrical wiring is safe |
| helps preserve and even escalates the home's value. | | | | for fifteen or twenty years and the furnace will remain |
| However, for most people, home maintenance is a | | | | efficient for twenty years at most. |
| pain in the neck since it needs more time and effort. | | | | 5. Purchase a home warranty policy. This will help you |
| Nevertheless, keeping your home in tip top shape is | | | | maintain and monitor your home. The insurance |
| necessary to protect your biggest investment and so | | | | company will do an inspection and provide service for |
| home maintenance is not an option, but a necessity. It | | | | all your major appliances regularly and will charge you |
| is important that you have an idea on how to make | | | | only a minimal additional fee for repairs. This is |
| basic repairs and maintenance to your home's | | | | especially important if your home is older. |
| systems and fixtures. | | | | 6. Keep a toolbox to do small repairs by yourself. |
| Following is a guide on how to manage the basic | | | | Make sure you have the correct and complete |
| home maintenance tasks in your home: | | | | materials in the kit such as: flat-head and philips-head |
| 1. Make sure that you know where the control points | | | | screwdrivers, lightweight claw hammer, pliers, small |
| are. Find out where the main plumbing valves are and | | | | hand saw, wire cutters, twine, duct tape, wood glue |
| the electrical breakers. If you do not have the blueprint | | | | caulk, stud-finder, electrical outlet tester and a 3-foot |
| of your home, you can hire a professional to identify all | | | | straight-edge ruler. |
| of the necessary controls for you. This is an | | | | 7. You may enroll in a workshop in your local hardware |
| investment that can surely benefit you later on. | | | | of home depot store to gain some basic skills. The |
| 2. Ensure that your home is safe by checking on your | | | | lessons will help you learn how to replace damaged |
| smoke detectors every now and then. If you find there | | | | window screens, tighten screws, stop running toilet, |
| is something wrong with the detectors, have them | | | | replace tile grout, clean the gutters, shut off the main |
| checked right away by an electrician. Keep fire | | | | plumbing valve if there is a leak and switch the right |
| extinguishers near the kitchen and bedrooms and | | | | breaker in case of power problem. |
| make sure that everybody is aware of where they | | | | 8. Do not hesitate to call on the professionals if the |
| are and knows how to use them. If your home was | | | | need arises. Electricians and plumbers contractors are |
| built before 1978, you may hire a certified hazardous | | | | licensed for a reason. They do dangerous and difficult |
| materials inspector to check your home for lead-based | | | | work. Never attempt to work on your furnace or clear |
| paint, asbestos, mildew and molds. For more | | | | out a backed-up plumbing nor re-wire a circuit by |
| information about this, check out the Department of | | | | yourself. Call these qualified professionals to do the |
| Health and Human Services in your area. | | | | work for you. Look for contractors and handyman |
| 3. Do a regular inspection of your home. Be alert on | | | | services and have their names and contact numbers |
| problems such as water in the wrong place or uneven | | | | affixed to the fridge in case of an emergency. |
| power flows. | | | | 9. Reserve a fund for home maintenance costs. This is |
| 4. Find out and understand the life expectancy of the | | | | necessary when the time comes to replace the roof |
| components of your home. Nothing lasts forever, and | | | | and major home appliances or if there are immediate |
| this holds true to the appliances and gadgets you have | | | | major repairs to be done. |
| in your home. Your fridge has a twelve to fifteen | | | | Your home is your biggest personal asset; therefore |
| useful life; water heater has ten to twelve years. Your | | | | you should ensure that you give it your most tender |
| roof should last for twenty years. The carpets | | | | loving care. |
| probably need to be replaced after eight years and | | | | |