#28 Care and Feeding of Your New Home



Your new home is, first, your home; and second, it’s possibly the most important investment you are acquiring!  Your home mortgage is already working for you as an important anchor element of your credit profile, and as a clear statement of your stability in your community.  It is literally up to you to determine whether its value will increase or deteriorate!

We see such concepts (increasing value or deterioration) very easily in smaller examples.   For instance, if we neglect our vehicle’s maintenance, it soon lets us down, and its resale value plummets!   In the case of your new home, it would be smart to begin right at the beginning with a sound plan for its “care and feeding,” so to speak!  There are precautions and preventative steps that will help your property hold its value, and insure an increase in that value, over time.

Some of the issues that put wear and tear on residential buildings are things over which you have no control.  The way to keep damage to a minimum is to take preventive measures where possible, and act quickly after the fact.  Severe weather punishes all building exteriors – whether it is intense cold, wind and precipitation, or intense heat that bakes exterior finishes.   Repairing storm damage as soon as possible – such as roof damage that might allow water to seep through to interiors – will keep potential residual damage to a minimum.   External natural drainage patterns will alert you to trouble spots where such paths need to be diverted away from your house foundation.

Inside, it’s important to make sure that all components that can cause damage are kept in good working order.   Some of our most common household fixtures can cause a lot of trouble if their functions fail!   Washing machines, dishwashers, bathtubs, toilets and all sinks are floods waiting to happen when not properly maintained!  (Teaching youngsters about small objects that may clog a drain can save you many headaches and many dollars!)  

Along with plumbing components, electrical components must be connected, used and monitored regularly.  Overloading circuits, using damaged wires or connectors and misuse of power bars are all dangerous gambles.  Electric appliances – like a hair dryer – should not be stored or used near water faucets.  Fires are too often traced to carelessness with electrical components.

Pest control should be a heads-up issue.   Depending where your home is located, your issues will vary.  Wildlife can decide to try to come in out of the cold and find snug little places to rest (and breed) and chew away at building materials!   Insects will infest, if given the opportunity.  Become informed about the local pests, consult an expert service and handle the risks before the trouble has a chance to start.

Looking at the two seasons most immediately affecting our lives, here are a few tips to help you stay on track for good residential property safety and maintenance:

WINTER:   1.  Clear debris from gutters and downspouts and make sure water is directed away from your home’s foundation.   2.  Replace furnace filters to ensure efficient and clean operation.   3.  Check windows and doors for drafts and install weather stripping, if needed.

SPRING:   1.  Remove foliage touching your home.  This will reduce damage to your home from wind and lessens the odds of insect infestation.  2.  Replace batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  3.  Power wash deck or patio to prevent mold and mildew.  Decks need a coat of stain or sealant every other year.

Treat these lists as your starting point.   Add to them, and develop similar lists for SUMMER and AUTUMN.   The future market value of your home is largely in your hands!

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