Owning your home comes with many responsibilities beyond just paying your mortgage. Your home is one of the largest purchases you’ll make in your life and it is important to take care of that investment. Being a good homeowner does not mean that you need to spend thousands of dollars on huge projects. A little care, maintenance, and planning go a long way. Below are a few simple ways you can take care of your home and become a better homeowner in the process.
1. Be a Better Homeowner by Changing Your Light Bulbs
When it comes to saving money and making your home more energy-efficient, many homeowners assume that they need to spend a lot to install new air conditioners, furnaces, water heaters, or windows, to name a few projects. Fortunately for you and your bank account, there are simpler ways to drive down energy costs.
Incandescent bulbs are still the most commonly used light bulbs in homes today. While they are cheap to purchase, they consume the most amount of energy. Consider switching to LED lighting. While the initial cost of the bulbs may be more expensive, they will last for years and you will notice the difference in your energy bill.
2. Take Inventory of Your Home
Every homeowner should have a homeowners insurance policy in the unfortunate event of a fire, burglary, or natural disasters. While homeowners insurance will cover much of what’s lost, you’ll still need to prove to the insurance company that you owned the items in the first place.
Set aside a few days to make a complete inventory of everything that you own, including photos of the items. For more expensive items like electronics or jewelry, try to save the receipts and write down any serial numbers. Compile the list of items, photos, and other information and save them on cloud storage so your records are safe outside of your home.
3. Service Your HVAC Unit Regularly
Being a better homeowner means taking care of your major appliances. Your HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) unit is your home’s most expensive and important appliance. Nobody wants to spend a summer with a broken air conditioner or a winter with no heat.
Repairing or replacing your HVAC unit could run into the thousands or even tens of thousands depending on the size of your home. Fortunately, you can minimize this possibility and extend the lifespan of your system by having your HVAC unit serviced every year. A certified technician will perform simple maintenance on your home’s heating and air system that will help it run more efficiently, and it should only cost a few hundred dollars.
4. Boost Curb Appeal With Simple Yard Work
The way your home looks from the outside plays a major factor in your home’s property value. Increase its value by doing simple yard work.
Dead or patchy grass can make even the most beautiful homes look shabby. Water your grass and make sure you cut it regularly. Trim any trees and bushes on your property. If you don’t have any greenery other than your lawn, consider planting some bushes, hedges, trees, or perennials to boost your curb appeal.
To make your home stand out more, give it a fresh coat of exterior paint. Not only will it freshen up and protect your home, but it is also a cost-efficient way of increasing its value and being a better homeowner.
5. Be a Better Homeowner by Checking Your Smoke Detectors
Safety should be a priority for all homeowners. Make sure you have enough smoke detectors in your home and that they are functioning properly. You should have a minimum of one smoke detector in each bedroom, the kitchen, living room, and hallways, and in the attic, basement, and garage. In addition to smoke detectors, your home should also have at least one carbon monoxide detector.
While sometimes major repairs or renovations arise, being a better homeowner does not always require spending a lot of money. With these easy tips, you can make your home more safe, secure, energy-efficient, and attractive.
AWP Home Inspections provides home inspection services to Indiana. Contact us to schedule an appointment.