Whether you’re a buyer, seller, or stable homeowner with no current plans to move, home maintenance is something we all need to be diligent about. For better or worse, even those of us with the best of intentions are prone to making some fairly common maintenance mistakes (or simply letting routine maintenance slide weeks or months longer than we intended).
As a Certified Master Inspector with safety always my top priority, I routinely see maintenance missteps that could easily be avoided. Perhaps it’s busy lives that get in the way or an unexpected storm that sets you back. Regardless, to keep our homes in their best shape and avoid costly mistakes down the road, do your part to avoid these common home maintenance mistakes.
Failing to clear gutters and drainage – One of the most important steps to take to prevent water damage to your home is ensuring proper drainage of water out and away from your property. Routinely check your gutters and downspouts for debris, and plan on taking an extra look before and after a storm comes through.
Forgetting to change the HVAC filter – It is recommended to change your filter every one to three months, and more frequently if you have pets or are running the unit more often. Excess buildup on your filter adds undue stress on your HVAC system. To help remember this simple home maintenance task, set a calendar reminder. And in fact, go change yours right now for good measure.
Hiding mold or water damage – You can’t paint away water damage. What you can and should do is first find and fix the source of the water leak and then repair whatever water damage you incurred.
Overlooking small signs of damage – A small crack here, a little drip there – can’t cause much harm, can it? Unfortunately, it can…and it will if not properly addressed. Cracks in foundations, leaks in roofs – these all point to bigger problems and need to be taken seriously. If you spot small signs of damage to your property, seek professional help to determine the best course of action for fixing it before you have an even more expensive and unsafe problem.
If you have questions about home maintenance tips, get in touch with us at GI Joe Home Inspections.