| Whether you have recently purchased your new | | | | minor investment in a fire or smoke detector. |
| home, or have been there for years, that real | | | | Check the batteries on the first of each |
| estate investment is probably your most | | | | month, or at least with each change of |
| important asset. Protecting and maintaining | | | | season. Also consider carbon monoxide |
| your home serves a number or purposes. | | | | detectors, or a home security system. These |
| Maintaining your home will save you money, | | | | can save lives and your entire real estate |
| allow your house to sell more quickly and at | | | | investment. |
| a higher price, and contribute to the overall | | | | |
| comfort, health and safety of your family. | | | | Heater and cooling systems should be part of |
| Some of the most expensive and damaging home | | | | a regular real estate inspection schedule for |
| repairs can be averted with routine | | | | maintaining your home. Routine maintenance on |
| maintenance. | | | | those items by qualified professionals can |
| | | | save you hundreds or even thousands of |
| Water Damage to Real Estate | | | | dollars. |
| | | | |
| Water damage causes thousands of dollars a | | | | One of the easier do-it-yourself fixes for |
| year to real estate owners. While you can't | | | | maintaining your home is to change filters, |
| prevent a major flood, most of the causes of | | | | and vacuum vents on a regular basis. One of |
| real estate water damage can be prevented. | | | | the least known causes of home fires is the |
| When thinking about maintaining your home, | | | | vent leading to your clothes drier machine. |
| take a close look at pipes, appliances, and | | | | Check and clean this out each season. |
| potential leakages. In colder areas of the | | | | |
| country pipes have a tendency to freeze and | | | | Maintaining Your Home From the Outside In |
| often burst. Insulating and running them | | | | |
| regularly can save carpets, furniture, and | | | | There are some basics for maintaining your |
| wood fixtures. | | | | home on the outside as well. Even if you |
| | | | don't plan to sell your home, protecting the |
| Moisture from leaks is a cause of warped wood | | | | outside is critical. Trimming tree limbs and |
| and mildewed walls. Maintaining your home | | | | branches now is a lot better than having one |
| should involve managing the moisture with a | | | | crash into the side of your house during high |
| humidifier or other regulating device. Home | | | | winds. Power-washing outer walls and shutters |
| inspectors also advise that you check the | | | | improves the appearance, but also cleans off |
| caulking around tubs and sinks, and the | | | | dirt and mildew that can decay and damage |
| barriers around windows to prevent leakages. | | | | surfaces. Finally, regular cleaning of |
| Finally, keep an eye on your appliances. The | | | | gutters and eaves can prevent debris and |
| icemakers in some refrigerators have a long | | | | water from suddenly crashing down and |
| tube in back that will water your house while | | | | damaging your house or yard. |
| you sleep if it comes loose. | | | | |
| | | | Your home is truly the greatest investment |
| Maintaining Your Home with Consistency | | | | most of us will make. Maintaining your home |
| | | | requires diligence, but will reward you with |
| When it comes to cost effectiveness in | | | | time, money and peace of mind. |
| maintaining your home, nothing beats the | | | | |