It is considered an important milestone when a person buys their first house ever. It is also a huge achievement and it is important to also be able to take care of this investment so that it does not become a liability. You should take a house that is easy enough for you to maintain with your current finances.
There are quite a few things that homeowners need to take care of. Unlike rented apartments, you will not have the bonus of having someone look after all of your issues such as plumbing, lighting, and even maintenance.
All of this will be taken care of by the landlord when you call for them. But when you own a home, things are quite different.
If you keep looking after your house nicely, you can save yourself a ton of money and sorrow in the long run. There are a few things that need some routine maintenance and then they are good to go.
If you do not do this, these things might give you huge problems in the future. We have talked to a ton of experts in the field of real estate to find out what are the most essential things one person should take care of annually in their home.
Inspect Your House After Winter Arrives
If you live in Canada, the winters can be quite brutal. There are a lot of things that can cause damage to your house during this harsh weather. Winter can damage your driveway due to heavy snowfall.
It is quite common to experience plumbing problems. Below freezing temperatures show a lot of potential problems that you should mostly try fixing during springtime since it will be quite difficult to do so in the snow.
Ice and snow can put a strain on your roof, leading to roof leaks and even loose shingles. Even your gutters can be blocked by snow and ice consequently leading to ice dams that are filled with debris.
Even the caulk in your windows can be pulled away due to the cold, leading to drafts that might cause you or your family to get sick. You should always be careful and clean your driveway to prevent slipping and falling.
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Clean Your Gutters
Did you know that a lot of pests can be breeding in your gutters? This might be shocking, but debris carries along with it a lot of pests. It is vital that you clean out your clogged gutters for multiple reasons.
This can damage your roof pretty badly and can impede the proper flow of water. This will cause all the rainfall to accumulate and overflow, putting weight on your gutters. These also foster disease-causing organisms in the rain which you want to keep as far away as possible.
You need to know one thing, how clean is your house won’t matter if such disease spreads from the exterior of your home. You should get this cleaned immediately. Moreover, this can damage your home’s foundation and compromise stability.
You can even think of hiring professionals for deep cleaning of your entire house.
Check Your Air Ducts
The area where two of your ducts meet is the most common area for a possible leak. This deals with a lot of strain and pressure on it due to the air passing by mostly from there.
There can be quite a few leaks or holes in your ductworks which can lead to higher energy bills, difficulty in cooling or heating, and uncomfortable temperatures in your rooms. You should at first inspect everything visually.
Turn everything on to a blast and check for any obvious leaking signs. You can even take an incense stick and move it around to see if you are really experiencing a leak.
Duct tape might be a good solution temporarily, but it is important to get this fixed before it leads to more damage in your house.
Check All of Your Caulking
This should be done at least once a year so that you do not get any big drafts in your house. Depending on the age of the building, you should decide on the frequency of fixing your caulking. Sealants can last up to 5 years before they have to be replaced.
You should most definitely check this before winter arrives so that you do not find any cracks or weathering before the harsh winter arrives. Spring is the best time to inspect everything so that you have time to arrange repairs and make it set before the weather changes.
This can cause problems by leading to water infiltration, loss of energy and heat in the house, and majorly cold drafts all day long.
Clean Your Chimney
As a homeowner, it is important to check your chimney annually. This is quite important in order to prevent fires in your home. When you burn something in your fireplace, chimney soot builds up and leaves byproducts of burning wood.
You can also clean your own chimney, but it is important to remember that safety comes first. You should take proper steps to protect the inside of your home such as your clothes, tarps, and drop cloths from all of the dust when you sweep your chimney.
You should also get the right kind of chimney brushes in order to do this.
Inspect Your Railings and Stairs
It is quite important to inspect your railings and stairs since these things often get neglected during maintenance and inspection. This is quite important to look after your safety and loose and weak railings and stairs can be hazardous.
If you have a deck, it is especially important to check the stairs there since wood can be susceptible to damage and structural weakness.
Even railing failures are quite common and you should check so that none of your guests fall off it.
It is quite important to do routine checks every once in a while in your house so that it is not heavy on your pocket later on. Use this checklist to help you see any aspect that you might be overseeing.
