How to Maximize Your Valuable Investment

Protect Your New Home Investment

Building a custom home is a bit like buying a new car, right? In terms of maintenance, we think so.

Maintenance is Key

You know how you feel when you drive a new car out of the showroom? You don’t want any dust, dirt, or stains to ruin the beautiful seats on the inside or paint on the outside. You keep the interior clean and regularly wash and wax the exterior to keep it spotless. A little preventative care can go a long way in preserving the life of your new car. The car manual provides a maintenance plan that highlights key times to perform routine care to keep the engine running smoothly and the rest of the car performing at its peak.

Do homebuilders provide a similar maintenance plan to new homeowners letting them know what regular care should be given to their new home? Not usually. But they probably should. After all, a new home is one of the biggest investments most people make during their lifetime. So it’s wise to take care of it from the start. A little planning and elbow grease will go a long way toward keeping your home clean, maintaining its value, and avoiding costly repairs later on. If you’re not that handy around the house, you might want to consider hiring a professional to tend to things that need cleaning and maintaining. This will be money well spent.

Here is a home maintenance plan with some suggestions for maximizing enjoyment of your new home and maintaining its value:

• Regular Washing: Just like a new car, your new custom home needs a regular washing too. Try to pressure wash the exterior at least once a year; two times a year is best. The exterior paint, stucco, stone, siding, or other components will not only maintain a better look but will last longer as well.

• Flush the Air Conditioning Condensation Line: This preventive maintenance measure costs only pennies but has real, lasting value. Flush the air conditioning condensation line with a cup of bleach twice a year to avoid algae buildup and blockage. This simple preventive step will save you the stress of your line becoming backed up, allowing water to pour through the dry wall.
  

• Clean the Gutters and Filters: Have your home’s gutters cleaned at least twice a year to avoid leaf buildup. Also be sure to change (or clean if they are reusable) your air conditioner’s filter every three months. (If you have 4” media filters, then you will only need to change them twice per year for full-time use). A clean filter helps your unit run more smoothly and saves you money on your electric bill. A clean filter also increases the life of your air conditioning unit. Nothing is more frustrating (not to mention costly) than having to install a new air conditioning unit in the middle of the summer.

• Replace with Fresh Batteries: Daylight-savings time is a great reminder for this step. In the fall and spring, when you adjust your clocks, replace the batteries in your smoke alarm. As an extra note, be sure to check your irrigation clock every few months to ensure proper operation.

• Avoid Abrasive Cleaners on Hardwood: If you have hardwood floors, it’s important to keep them clean in order to extend their beauty and life. However, be careful to never use wax or harsh cleaners on your hardwood floors. The chemicals could permanently damage the flooring and result in a costly fix.

• Garage Door Safety Reminders: Two important things to keep in mind if you have a garage door opener. First, never remove the garage door obstruction sensor. This safety feature is designed to prevent the overhead door from coming down on a child or animal and injuring or killing them. Check the sensor every few months to make sure it is working properly. Second, it’s important to never try any type of garage door spring maintenance or adjustments by yourself. If the tightly coiled spring somehow comes off, it can cause serious injury. Always hire a trained installer or maintenance professional to assist you.

• Check and Reseal: Check the exterior of your home twice a year for any signs of expansion or contraction. Cracks may allow water to seep in causing extensive damage to the interior walls. Caulk cracks and seal wood to prevent future problems.

While this maintenance plan is not comprehensive, it does include some of the most important items every homeowner should do to protect their investment. Your home may have some additional needs to consider.

Why not take this maintenance plan and find a creative way to remind yourself to do these activities? Perhaps you could write reminders on your wall calendar, schedule them into your Day-Timer, or set up reminders that will pop up on your computer. However. you decide to do it, these regular maintenance items will maximize your home’s value and maintain its beauty for years to come.

Keep up with routine maintenance and cleaning around your house or consider hiring professional to protect your new home investments.

-Sean Sullivan