Owning a home has a lot of perks (goodbye pet policies!). But those perks come with a lot of responsibility. Between daily chores and preventative maintenance, it’s easy to forget a few things. Let’s refresh your memory! Here are seven frequently-forgotten tasks that will help you stay on top of homeownership.
These tasks are especially important for new homeowners, but veterans may be forgetting a few of these, too!
Buy a bunch of furnace filters. Changing your furnace filter regularly is one of the easiest ways you can save money (since your furnace will last longer) and improve your health (since the air you breathe will be cleaner). But remembering to pick up a filter from the hardware store every few months isn’t always so easy. Nip that problem in the bud by purchasing in bulk! Take a look at your furnace and write down the filter size, then order enough to last for a few years (the exact number you need will vary depending on the type of furnace you have).
Get to know your appliances. Just like cars and televisions, the appliances in your home have different life expectancies. For example, furnaces usually last for 15-20 years, but water heaters tend to start wearing down after 10 years. Plan ahead for their replacements. A new furnace can cost as much as $5,000, so a little heads up can really help!
Start keeping records. Every improvement or repair you make to your home – from adding caulk around your bathtub to installing a new roof – will increase its resale value. Make sure all of your hard work pays off by keeping track right from the start!
Beef up your insurance. Take a good look at your homeowners insurance policy and look for any relevant gaps (this is a situation where professional advice can be really helpful). Two areas of coverage to consider are flood and fire protection, which aren’t always included in standard policies.
Other tasks highlighted in the BrightNest article:
- Save for unexpected problems
- Form an inspection habit
- Take advantage of tax credits
