Preventive Home Maintenance Checkup
Your home can't take care of itself. Your monthly budget should include money for routine maintenance and repair for the house and yard. Plan to set money aside for the large, irregular expenses that occur normally as a house ages. Large expenses include interior and exterior painting, repairs or replacement of heating and air conditioning units and appliances, floor coverings, and roof surfaces.
Housing experts recommend setting aside 1 to 3 percent of the market value of your house each year to pay for maintenance and repair costs. While all of these funds may not be needed if your home is new, the accumulated amounts will help you pay for large future expenses, such as re-roofing or replacing a heating unit.
Who should do the maintenance and repairs? The home owner who does his or her own maintenance and repairs saves money. Use the following sources to learn how to do your own maintenance and repairs:
- Manufacturer's use and care booklet and care guides from repair and cleaning products used.
- Extension leaflets on maintenance and repairs.
- Do-it-yourself publications often available free in builder supply or hardware stores.
- Home maintenance/repair books and videos in the public libraries or stores.
- An experienced neighbor or friend.
If you are not able to do the work, hire a qualified, experienced repair person. Ask friends for personal recommendations. Check the telephone book, neighborhood newspapers, or special advertisements to find a reputable repair person. Ask for written estimates, and do not pay in advance for maintenance or repair services.
Monthly Safety Tests
Make your home safer by inspecting these items monthly and keeping them up-to-date.
- automatic garage door opener
- ground fault interrupter receptacles and circuit breakers
- smoke alarms
- inspect and lubricate (if needed) windows for emergency exits
- carbon monoxide detectors
- general inspection of heating unit and water heater
Emergency Items
Write down this important information about your home and keep it accessible in case of an emergency. If you can't find or operate any of these items, ask someone knowledgeable to help. All adults in the home should know where these items are and how to shut them off:
- heating fuel main shutoff
- main electrical shutoff
- main water shutoff
- fire extinguishers
- main drain line cleanout
Please contact us for more information on our services. We also provide oversight during the planning and construction of your home.
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