Buying a home is a process, and certainly a big financial commitment. Once you’ve purchased a home, moved in and gotten settled, it’s time to start caring for your investment. That means keeping up with regular maintenance to prevent wear and tear. You may be surprised by how some simple steps taken on a monthly or seasonal basis can prevent you from paying for significant damage or issues down the line. You should make a home maintenance checklist that you can easily follow to keep in your home in great working shape.

Make a Checklist for the Monthly Maintenance that You Need to Do

Checklists are an effective productivity tool for many people. When you have a checklist posted somewhere in your home, you can easily reference it to see what needs to be done. Start by making a list of all the monthly tasks that need to be done. This should include checking your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they’re still working. You should also change out the air filter in your home to improve the air quality and efficiency of your HVAC unit. Other monthly maintenance items may include disinfecting trash cans, cleaning drains and toilets, and running “self clean” cycles on major appliances.

There Are Also Seasonal Maintenance Steps that You Can Take

Not everything needs to happen on a monthly basis, but by taking stock of the different parts of your home ever so often, you can make sure that there isn’t significant wear developing anywhere. Heading into the fall, it’s a good idea to drain water from features like sprinklers or pools. Check all of the doors and windows around your home for signs of cracks or openings. Caulking these areas can keep bugs out and it can keep your utility bills lower during the colder months.

You May Also Consider a Professional Inspection for Your Home

In addition to regular maintenance steps, you may want to set up some kind of recurring inspection service for your home. Having an annual inspection to check for pests or damage to the exterior of your home can keep you from incurring more serious costs in the future. A little preventive maintenance now may circumvent the need for a full-blown renovation. There’s nothing worse than being caught by surprise with major homeownership expenses. Preventive maintenance can keep you out of the red.

If You’re Looking for a Home in Omaha, Talk to Bill Swanson

Bill Swanson is a native of the Omaha area, and a real estate agent with plenty of experience. Bill wants to help you find the right home for you, and maintain that home long after you’ve moved in. If you’d like to work with Bill Swanson, contact his Omaha, NE office by calling 402-679-6566.