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As a homeowner, it is
important to pay your mortgage
regularly and on time, and
maintain your property.
These are important steps toward
protecting your asset.
Planning ahead is critical.
Smart homeowners plan for
expected home maintenance, such
as repainting or replacing
carpet, and budget accordingly,
but they also have a fund for
the unexpected.
a hailstorm hits your area and
you need to pay the insurance
deductible to fix your roof.
Talk with your home buying team
about common costs to plan for
and uncommon ones to be ready
for.
Your home may require seasonal
maintenance such as cleaning
gutters, as well as general
upkeep throughout the year.
Here are some basic ways to
maintain your home.
Your appliances, such as a
stove, refrigerator, washer,
dryer, or dishwasher, will need
periodic maintenance or
replacement.
Your home will need general
upkeep to prevent it from
getting run down.
Keep things in working order
with repairs for plumbing,
electrical, masonry, and
carpentry issues.
Inspect your home's roof
annually.
Look for clogged gutters,
cracked caulking or rust spots
on flashing, and curling,
missing, or blistering shingles
to fix.
Inspect your home's exterior
siding annually.
Timely repairs may help you
avoid expensive replacements
later on.
Take care of your air
conditioner and furnace by
getting your home's heating and
ventilation system serviced
annually, and replace air
filters every couple of months.
In your budget, you may also
want to include funds for home
improvements.
When you have your own home, you
can modify it to suit your
lifestyle.
You may decide you want to
remodel, upgrade, or add on to
your home.
Your home is an asset.
Take good care of it, manage it
well, and you're more likely to
reap its advantages.