While it may seem like a costly indulgence, property experts recommend that homeowners should be spending 1 per cent of their home’s value on improvements annually. According to the Land Registry, the average price of a house in the United Kingdom is about £180,000, meaning you should be spending about £1,800 per year on home maintenance.
Home maintenance can be daunting, but it does not always have to mean extensive, back-breaking work. Simple projects can drastically improve the quality and value of your home. The key is to remain vigilant.
A little time spent on maintenance now could save you thousands on costly repairs in the future. Consider the following maintenance projects:
- Apply a fresh coat of paint every 10 to 15 years depending on the quality of paint and seasonal weather conditions.
- Inspect your pipes on a regular basis for leaks. Based on what type of materials your pipes are made of, they should last at least 50 years.
- Check the seals around windows, doors and skylights for leaks.
- Examine electrical wiring for over-wired panels, poor connections or dangerous exposures.
- Review the condition of your home’s exterior a new roof can be costly, but it will last 10 to 15 years. Alternatively, you can choose to patch or repair the trouble areas.
- Freshen up two areas in your home (including hallways and landings) every year to keep your maintenance projects constant but manageable.
