If you have recently taken possession of your very first home, we offer our congrats! It isn’t easy to navigate your way to mortgage approval, save up the deposit and pay all the fees that are associated with real estate acquisition. Now that you have made it this far, we would like to offer a few building maintenance tips to help keep your property in good shape.
Climate Control – For the best in whole house climate control, ducted air conditioning offers affordable solutions. Of course, the system needs to be serviced at least twice a year, which the supplier can handle. If you have yet to install climate control, we recommend asking a leading NZ supplier to pay you a visit. Without regular servicing, your a/c won’t be able to run at optimum levels, so make sure you book every 6 months.
Regular roof inspections – The roof is one component that cannot be seen from the ground elevation, therefore you should ask a local roofing contractor to carry out an inspection every 6 months. This will reveal any minor issues like missing roof tiles and the sooner you have repairs carried out, the better. The roofer would issue you with a detailed written report that covers every aspect of the roof, which brings you peace of mind.
Prompt repairs – When you find something that needs attention, don’t sit on it; rather carry out prompt repairs, which will save you both time and money. If you don’t fancy doing the work yourself, contact a local handyman who would make short work of any minor issues. Boost your home’s value with these amazing outdoor improvement projects.
Pre-source essential building services – This is a great idea; a couple of hours Googling is all it takes to find the tradespeople you might need; an electrician, carpenter, roofer and landscape gardener are all numbers you will need to call at some point in the future. When you have a blocked drain, you don’t need the hassle of finding a good plumber that lives nearby, which is why you should pre-source.
Be observant – When at home, take note of everything; some homeowners have a small board in the kitchen where they note minor issues that need fixing. Take a walkaround the interior, checking walls for damp patches, also check electrical connections and do the same for the exterior, making note of brickwork that needs repointing.
Be proactive – Rather than sitting back and waiting for things to go wrong, there are many things you can do to help prevent building degradation. One great way to prolong the life of your roof is to have a protective coating applied; a silicone spray that expands and contracts with the roof will add a layer of protection.
From climate control to your electrical system, property maintenance is an integral aspect of home ownership and we hope the above tips help you to maintain your home.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.