Our homes are much more than just shelter—they’re our refuge and where we go to relax and nurture the really important part of our lives—family. But homes are also expensive and eventually require maintenance and repair. Here are some ways you can care for your home without breaking the bank.
- Keep your insurance premiums as low as possible by making sure you protect against fire—probably the biggest threat to our homes on a daily basis. Check the batteries on your smoke alarms at the beginning of the month, have your kitchen fire extinguisher checked annually and have your fireplace chimney serviced yearly. Get a checklist from your policy expert to make sure you have everything covered.
- Get into the habit of performing a visual check on your electrical outlets, water pipes and air conditioning unit and have them repaired as soon as any damage is noted. Small repairs cost less than big repairs.
- If you have an alarm system, test it at least twice a year. Protect against theft by keeping your contents insurance updated and making sure your door and window locks work correctly.
- Have a painting/staining schedule for the interior and exterior of your home and keep watch for paint sales at your favorite home supply store. You can buy paint and store it until needed. One of the most affordable ways to maintain the inside of your home is to paint the walls every two years—and that’s also the perfect opportunity to change the entire look of any room.
And finally, consider re-designing what you have instead of buying new when it comes to furnishings. Paint a table or shelves to add new life and put a slipcover on that tired couch—they will still feel new to you.
