Maintenance
Can proper maintenance increase the value of my home?
Yes. There’s no question that careful maintenance can pay off when it’s time to sell your home. As we explained under the SELLING section, a neat, well-maintained house can be expected to generate more interest, and quite possibly a faster sale for a better price, than a comparable house in less desirable condition. The same goes for home improvements, even minor ones like kitchen re-modelling or new taps.
Even if you’re not planning on moving in the foreseeable future, keeping up with routine maintenance will pay off in the long run. For one thing, it will save you considerable time, trouble and expense when you are finally ready to sell. And for another, it’s certain to make home ownership a more rewarding, worry-free experience for you and your family.
Best of all, home maintenance doesn’t have to cost a lot, in terms of time or money. Even if you’re not a weekend do-it-yourselfer, there are steps you can take right now to keep your home in top shape, inside and out.
What are some home maintenance steps I can do myself?
You can get more enjoyment in your home, and save money along the way, just by making a quick inspection every few months. The following list includes some important safety, economy, and comfort considerations that you shouldn’t overlook
INSIDE CHECK-UPS
Make sure handrails and posts on stairways are secure. Replace when necessary with inexpensive bracket hardware. Test all household alarms. And don’t forget the doorbell! Make sure pipes are running smoothly. Check traps and waste pipes, then check the main water line and taps. Check for wall seepages and ceiling leakages. Inspect all sockets and switches, and look for fraying wires.
OUTSIDE CHECK-UPS
Keep gutters sloped towards the downpipes and keep them free of leaves and twigs. Replace individual roof tiles when worn or loose. Use wire screening to keep insects and birds from nesting in roof ventilation areas. Lubricate autogate doors, hardware and hinges. Fill and seal driveway cracks when necessary.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, BE PREPARED!
Make sure that everyone in the house, including children who are old enough to be left alone, know where to find the following;
The closest fire extinguisher, and how to use it. Fuse box or main circuit breaker, and how it works. Main gas shut off valve, and how to turn it off. Main water shut off valve, and how to turn it off. Emergency services contact numbers (fire, police, ambulance).
How can I increase the energy-efficiency of my home without spending a fortune?
Making your home more comfortable and efficient doesn’t have to take a great deal of time and money. For a good start towards savings on your home cooling, and other energy bills, here are four easy steps you can take:
a. Keep your thermostat set around 24°C. By avoiding constant adjustments you can stabilise your energy bills.
b. Dripping bathroom taps and leaky shower heads are obvious waste culprits. Fortunately, they’re easy to fix with a self-help book.
c. Compact fluorescent lighting costs more than you’re used to paying for the standard incandescent bulbs, but fluorescent bulbs last more than 10 times longer (over 5 years in many cases) and use just a quarter of the electricity.
d. Help your home systems and appliances do their jobs by keeping filters clean and operating parts oiled. Clean air-conditioning fillers and wall units each year. A professional inspection once a year will keep things running smoothly.
Is it worth the money to call a professional just to handle maintenance?
When everything in your home seems to be running fine, it’s very tempting just to let maintenance go until next year. Do your best to overcome that temptation!
Get into the habit of sticking to a regular schedule of maintenance for the systems and equipment in your home. You’ll catch most little problems before they get big, and that can add up to enormous equipment and energy savings. Of course, the added benefit is the peace of mind that comes with being sure that everything in your home is running the way it was meant to.
If your home is covered by an ERA Home Warranty Plan and you need assistance, you simply follow service instructions included in your warranty contract. And if you have any questions or need professional repair service, ERA is ready to assist you in any way it can.
What maintenance records do I need to keep?
For easy reference in case of a repair or maintenance question, it’s a good idea to keep a record of the brand, model number, and serial number of your major appliances and systems. An example can be found on the following page.
Your records should also show the equipment installation dates (if known), as well as performance checks and service calls. Keeping these records will help you keep your home running smoothly.
This handy reference can help you protect your investment for as long as you own your home, and it’s impressive proof of consistent maintenance to prospective buyers.
