Your home can't take care of itself.  Your monthly budget should include money for routine maintenance and repair for the house and yard.  Plan to set money aside for the large, irregular expenses that occur normally as a house ages. Large expenses include interior and exterior painting, repairs or replacement of heating and air conditioning units and appliances, floor coverings, and roof surfaces.

Home maintenance helps provide a healthy, safe environment as it protects your growing financial investment.   It is much easier to prevent the development of unsafe, unhealthy conditions and structural damage than to pay repair bills.

Why should you do regular home maintenance?

• To maintain the value of the property.
• A well-maintained home usually sells more readily and usually brings a higher price.
• A well-maintained house is more comfortable.
• Regular care minimizes unexpected repair work and expense.
• Regular small repairs keep costs from becoming larger.

Regular inspection and maintenance of your home will help you keep the home in good condition and maintain its value.

Inspect your home regularly.  Develop a system where you inspect one area per month to ensure regular inspection of each area.  Start at the foundation of the house and work upward and inward.

The checklist below can help you identify areas where work may be needed.   Make note of anything that needs work.   For information on how to make repairs or handle maintenance, you can contact DP Maintenance.