Whether you own or rent a home, protecting it should be one of your highest priorities.
That said you can’t always be around to watch over your residence, especially if you are traveling often.
With that being the case, how can you protect your home so that it lasts you for many years to come?
Although there are some rather simple practices to put into place, not everyone always makes the time and/or effort to do just that.
So, are you ready to spend some time thinking about how to better prep your home so it and you are as safe as can be?
Don’t Leave a Stone Unturned
When it comes to protecting your home, your first thought should always be the safety of you and your family (if you have one).
That said here are four ways to go about protecting the residence you call home:
- Interior – Given this is the part of the residence you spend the most time in, it would only be natural to want to keep it updated. The easiest way to go about this is making sure you keep the temperature inside at proper levels to avoid problems such as mold, cracked pipes in the wintertime etc. Also make sure if you have a pet or pets to keep an eye out for problems such as clawing, chewing, bugs etc. As much as you love your pet or pets, they can do damage to a home over time. Lastly, make sure that all doors and windows are properly sealed to avoid problems creeping into your residence. Not only is this important to keep drafts and dirt etc. outside, but also help you with your heating and cooling costs. If you have windows and doors exposing you to the outside elements, you’re also ultimately wasting money;
- Exterior – The exterior of your home can’t be overlooked, so do all you can to protect it too. From your roof to your driveway, not taking care of such areas can prove costly. Assuming you own a vehicle or two, do you protect them too? If you do not have a garage, leaving your car in the driveway day after day can be problematic, especially if you live in areas of the country where harsh weather is the norm. One option is to turn to car cover universe and get a protective cover. Doing so not only keeps dirt off of your vehicle, but also helps protect it when Mother Nature decides to unload on your part of the country. Speaking of your driveway, make sure you don’t let it fall into disrepair over time. Small cracks now in the pavement can turn into much larger ones over time. The longer you wait to repair it, the more expensive it will likely be. Lastly, the aforementioned roof can’t be forgotten either. Your roof does so much for your home, notably keeping bad weather out. Have your roof inspected from time to time (see more below) to check for any leaks where water may creep in.
Keeping Criminals Out
- Safety – One of the top priorities in protecting your home is making sure you keep criminals at bay. Whether you have a family or not, you want anyone in the home to feel safe and sound at all times. In order to keep burglars and robbers etc. away from the residence, make sure you install a sound security system. Also avoid letting things like the grass or shrubs get too high, not having snow shoveled etc. You should also (if there isn’t one already) consider starting a neighborhood watch program for you and your neighbors;
- Upgrades – Finally, look into doing upgrades on the home as needed. As mentioned a moment ago, things such as your roof, paint, flooring, carpeting etc. will all need upgrades at some point or another, especially if you are in the residence for several decades. By doing the upgrades before they get too bad, you will end up saving money over the long haul. If money is rather tight, think about doing one project a year to spread the costs out some.
As a homeowner or renter, what tips do you have when it comes to protecting your home?