Healthy Homes: Tips, Tricks and Checklists for Maintaining Your Home
Embarking on the journey of homeownership is an exciting adventure filled with countless possibilities. It's an opportunity to create a safe and comfortable environment for your family and guests, but with hectic schedules, it's easy to forget to change air filters or check smoke alarms.
In this blog post, we provide valuable insights and a downloadable checklist to help you navigate home maintenance with relative ease and confidence. At first glance, this list may feel overwhelming but don't fret or forsake your homeownership dreams. With proper planning and a positive mindset, you can save time and money.
Budget for Ongoing Costs
As a new or established homeowner, you may already anticipate handling monthly mortgage payments, utility costs and HOA fees, if applicable. There are other important expenses that might not immediately come to mind when settling into your dream home. Don’t forget about these tasks when planning your budget: landscaping fees or lawn care equipment, HVAC maintenance, cleaning supplies, pest control and consistent gutter care.
Our season-by-season home maintenance checklist will help you plan for these costs and more. Some tasks are easy to complete yourself, while others require the help of a professional to ensure the job is done right. Please note that this is only a guide – the tasks listed for each season may vary depending on where you live and the type and size of the home you own.
Prepare for the Unexpected
Over the life of your home, you can expect and plan for regular repairs. For example, asphalt shingle roofs last 15-20 years under normal conditions. In an older home, with older pipes, it's natural to replace certain plumbing parts. Allocating funds for these repairs now will save you headaches in the future.
Access to an emergency fund will help ease most money concerns should unexpected issues arise. Consider opening a savings account with your existing bank so you can easily transfer cash to and from your accounts.
For more extensive repairs or renovations, a home equity line of credit, or HELOC, may help. A HELOC is a revolving line of credit. This means that as you pay off the credit advanced to you, you can use the credit line again throughout the term of your agreement.
Don't forget that a home is an investment, and its value is tied to its condition. By budgeting for regular maintenance, you can enjoy financial peace of mind and the added comfort of a healthy home that your family can enjoy for years to come.
Whether you're building a budget or hoping to turn your home into a haven, we're ready to make your dreams a reality. Chat with an Ameris Bank mortgage expert now or visit us online to review more National Homeownership Month resources.
Published June 2023
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
All loans subject to credit approval.
Sources: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company