When buying a home, you know the numbers — the down payment, mortgage rate, closing costs, fees, and so much more. But one of the things you might not consider is what comes after the sale is done, and that’s the money you should set aside for home repairs and maintenance.
A good rule of thumb is to budget between one and three percent of your home’s purchase price each year to cover typical homeowner maintenance. If you’re considering renovation, or if your home is older, it’s best to err on the side of caution and set aside three percent each year. For a $100,000 home, that’s about $3,000.
- Check Fire and Security Devices and Get Provisions
Take precautions to ensure your home’s safety, and that you have supplies on hand in case, there’s a storm or other event that leads to a power outage. Test your security system to ensure that it’s properly functioning. Test and replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and check the expiration date on your fire extinguishers to confirm they’re ready in the event of an emergency.
- Clean or Replace Your Furnace Filter
Depending on the furnace filter you have in place, you may not need to fully replace it every single month, but you should still give it a once-over every month and remove any build-up of dust or other debris. Doing so will ensure you get the best possible air quality circulating throughout your home. It will also go a long way toward helping you keep energy costs down.
- Check Air Conditioner Refrigerant Lines For Leaks
While you’re doing your monthly HVAC filter check-up, go outside and look at the two copper lines connecting your air conditioner to the indoor evaporator coil. Check the lines for leaks, which are pretty common and cause your AC to work a lot harder than it should. If you find any, call an HVAC tech to address the problem.
- Look Around Your Sinks And Toilets For Leaks
Small leaks tend to turn into big problems. In addition to having AC line leaks on your list of monthly home maintenance tasks, check around your sinks and toilets as well. Any sign of water should be looked into further, even if it’s just a few drops. Not only do leaks generally get worse over time, but the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) also estimates that the average household water leak can lead to nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted yearly.
- Keep Up With Your Landscaping
In addition to weekly lawn care, aim to tend to your flower beds at least once monthly as part of your house maintenance routine in warmer seasons. In some circumstances, letting weeds grow freely or dead leaves and debris to collect, such as in flower beds, can create a risk to your property; it can attract pests and even be a fire hazard. Consider spending time trimming and maintaining your landscaping each month to keep things tidy and help keep out unwanted pests.
Forget The Hassle, Call a Professional
Your home has been an excellent place for you and your family for years, but it’s time to make some improvements, repairs, or renovations to keep it looking and feeling like the home you need. Homeowners like you have found that a home maintenance inspection is a great way to ensure there are no significant safety issues that would create costly setbacks once you dive headfirst into a home improvement project.
The knowledge gained from an inspection is well worth the cost, and the lowest-priced inspector is not necessarily a bargain. The inspector’s qualifications, including his experience, training, and professional affiliations, should be the most crucial consideration.
Schedule Your Standard Property Inspection in Colorado Springs. When searching for the right home inspector, find someone you can trust — and that’s why we are here for you. The inspectors at Pine Breeze Inspections are licensed by the State of Colorado, certified, and insured.