Essential Home Maintenance Tips Every Homeowner Should Know
Buying a home is a huge financial investment, so naturally, you'll want to take care of it. Whether you've purchased an apartment with us through Shared Ownership or private sale, becoming a homeowner means you'll be responsible for the upkeep of the property. To help you get started, we've put together some seasonal home maintenance checklists and essential tips to keep your apartment looking its best.
Why Home Maintenance Is Important
Keeping your home in good condition helps to protect your investment by maintaining the value of your property. It has benefits for the present as well; regularly checking that electrical, plumbing and heating systems are functioning well can maximise energy efficiency, lowering your utility bills. It also makes your home more enjoyable to live in, as you'll have peace of mind from doing what you can to ensure everything is clean, tidy and in working order.
As a leasehold owner, you'll be responsible for the maintenance of everything inside your home, including the associated financial costs. Meanwhile, your service charge goes towards the repair and maintenance of the communal areas and exterior of the building. It's worth familiarising yourself with the terms of your lease to make sure you understand what you're responsible for maintaining and repairing.
Seasonal Home Maintenance
The seasons bring with them changing weather conditions, cultural holidays and various reasons to host at home. Therefore, it's wise to adjust your maintenance checklist throughout the year to ensure your place meets seasonal demands. Below you'll find a home maintenance checklist for each season, highlighting things to check in your apartment alongside your usual monthly maintenance like testing smoke alarms and cleaning your oven.
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
- Deep clean carpets and rugs
- Wash often-forgotten fixtures like window seals, coving and skirting
- Clear away lint from vents
- Freshen up walls with a lick of paint
- Vacuum-pack and store winter clothing for more wardrobe space
- Check walls for signs of damp after winter
Summer Home Maintenance Checklist
- Swap cosy bedding for cooler, lighter sheets
- Clean your balcony or terrace
- Wipe down outdoor furniture so it's summer ready
Autumn Home Maintenance Checklist
- Pack away summer clothes to make room for winter warmers
- Check your hot water and heating systems, calling in the professionals for servicing if needed
- Clear leaves and debris from outdoor spaces
Winter Home Maintenance Checklist
- Store outdoor furniture to protect it from winter weather
- Use extractor fans to prevent damp
- Check pipes for leaks after cold snaps
- Wipe any condensation off windows
DIY vs Professional Maintenance
Being a homeowner often means becoming a dab hand at DIY, as there are lots of odd jobs you can do by yourself as quick fixes or to make your place feel more homely. But it's important to know where your skills start and end, and when to call the professionals for expert help.
Equipping yourself with a basic toolkit containing things like a hammer, screwdriver and tape measure will enable you to complete simple tasks, such as tightening loose fixtures or hanging up picture frames. For home plumbing maintenance and electrical work, it's safest to get a qualified tradesperson to carry out repairs, as this will prevent any accidental damage or costly remedial work that might result from not doing the job properly by yourself.
Energy Efficiency Maintenance
Keeping your home in tip-top shape can also maximise its energy efficiency. Regularly cleaning appliances and getting them repaired if anything breaks will increase their longevity and keep them performing optimally. Additionally, sealing any drafts around doors and windows will help retain warmth during colder months, ensuring you're getting the most out of your heating system. All NHG Homes new builds come fully fitted to ensure they’re environmentally sound!
Maintaining water fixtures can also contribute to efficiency. Cleaning taps and drains will prevent the build-up of soap residue and mineral deposits which can obstruct water flow. Furthermore, checking for leaks and getting them fixed will also prevent water waste, maximising the efficiency of fixtures.
At NHG Homes, our team is on hand to help. Read more about repair responsibilities for leasehold properties and find out how to report a repair with Notting Hill Genesis.
