Owning a home can be filled with joy and chaos. One day everything works, and the next it seems all has broken. By learning a few tricks one can help themselves become less stressed, more confident and enjoy their home without the headache associated with the homeownership with these five tips.
Repair What You Can
Your doorknob is loose, not a problem. Your hinges squeak, you can fix that in a snap. Now what about that roof leak? This is when you need to bring in a professional. We fix the small household repairs that are easy and cost effective to do, but leave the bigger jobs like roof leaks, water heater replacements, and busted plumbing to professions.
Yard Work Woes
There is nothing like wanting to sit back and enjoy the weekend in the backyard after a hard week at work; but wait the lawn needs mowing, the bushes need pruning, and the trees need trimming. No rest for in sight. Hire someone to help. Obtain quotes from professionals in the area to meet your schedule and budget so you can enjoy your backyard. They can even come out twice a month. We did and it allows us to enjoy our backyard and time together doing projects that we love. Cost can be minimal depending on what you need. It is worth having some free time.
Ditch The Carpet
We had carpet when we moved in throughout our entire house. Then as time wore on, so did the carpet. It wasn’t the same after years of wear and tear, tracked in mud and dirt, and dog paw markings. Not to mention a dust trap for allergens. We had our carpet replaced with laminate wood flooring and it has made a world of difference. Easy to clean, less dust accumulation and dog paw marks come right off.
Update, Update, Update
You hear it all the time from companies about how energy efficient products are and how cost effective it will be for your home. We replaced our metal frame windows with the newer vinyl windows and see the difference every day. The first couple months we saved over $400 alone in heating/air costs, received a rebate and have an aesthetically pleasing look to our home.
Periodically Review Your Payments
Interest rates fluctuate from time to time and companies send mailers out to homeowners trying to get you to lock in to different rates with them. Depending on the time of year and the market you can actually get a really good rate. Last year we locked in to a good rate which dropped our payments significantly. Don’t always throw away that envelope or postcard with mortgage information. If the time is right review what you are paying. A little extra in the bank is always good for a rainy day.
