Have you purchased a home this year or in the past few years? The first few years of home ownership really matter when it comes to determining whether your home investment will turn out to have been a positive return opportunity or a liability on your finances. The good news is that home prices have not been negatively impacted by Covid like commercial real estate has, which has been detailed by Javad Marandi.
A big part of the difference in the value of your home is related to how you maintain the property. As it turns out, just a few small changes to your property maintenance can have an outsized impact on how much it costs to make repairs down the road. Here are just a few of the items that, by doing them this fall, you’ll save yourself a lot of money and headaches over time. Homelight’s top real estate agents weigh in on some of the best fall maintenance tips for keeping your property in top shape.
Prioritize A Safe Foundation
There are many ways to keep your foundation safe, but the best money-saving tip we can give is to pay attention to that foundation. When you frequently check your foundation inside for micro-fissures and cracks, you’re able to address the way the house is settling early in the process. Later on, bigger interventions can be more costly.
You should also make it a point to walk around the outside and look at the foundation right after a major storm or rain shower. You want to make sure that the grading of the lawn or property is away from the foundation and that all gutters and downspouts are working properly. If you notice water pooling by the foundation during one of these walks, work with a landscaper or re-grade that area yourself. It’s worthwhile to protect your foundation from costly water damage.
Check Out Wooden Elements of the Home
Wooden elements of your home are also prone to accelerating damage if they are neglected. If your siding, shingles, or the structure of your home has damage from, say, falling tree branches, get it fixed immediately. You might not have noticed a small problem with the structure and only discover it after water has been leaking in and damaging your home for a long time! These kinds of neglect seem so small if you are on top of them, but you’re actually saving a ton of money by doing a thorough evaluation of the exterior of your home. At least once a year, perform this check, but you can catch things even earlier if you check quarterly or twice a year.
Mulch: So Much More Than Aesthetics
One of the least expensive interventions that can make your property look better while also protecting your landscaping is mulching. If you choose to mulch your beds frequently, you’ll be amazed at how much better they look and how safely the plants make it through the winter. Choose a mulch in collaboration with a professional at your local nursery to pick something that will both look great and provide the kind of nutrients that your particular plant mix needs.
With these simple bits of vigilance, you can help your home hold and grow it’s value for when you go to sell in the future!
