Do you want to protect your biggest investment?
It’s hard to think about homeownership like that. But once you take care of a house for a long enough time, it becomes an investment.
And like any investment it has to be maintained to continue performing.
Fail to maintain your home and everything from the roof to the foundation starts to fall apart.
Insider Tips for Protecting Property Value With Home Maintenance
- Why Home Maintenance Matters For Property Value
- The Roof Is The Most Important Place To Start
- 5x Maintenance Tasks That Protect Property Value
- How To Stay On Top Of It All
Home Maintenance Tasks You SHOULD Be Doing To Protect Property Value
Here’s the issue. Most homeowners only notice maintenance needs when something goes wrong.
You know, like the furnace breaks down or the hot water heater starts leaking all over the garage. Little issues become major (expensive) projects in a hurry.
Fortunately, keeping on top of just a few maintenance tasks can help your home maintain (and possibly gain) property value.
Ready to learn which tasks to tackle?
Let’s do this…
Why Home Maintenance Matters For Property Value
Think of home maintenance as the oil change schedule for your car. Ignore it long enough and you’ll blow the engine.
Same principle applies to a house.
Maintenance tasks prevent larger issues from arising. It also shows home buyers you’ve taken care of the property.
Which brings us to some data…
According to Hippo’s Housepower Report, unexpected home maintenance cost 83% of homeowners in 2024. That’s up from 46% in 2023.
The most common unexpected maintenance problems? Water damage, roof damage and window damage.
There you have it.
Home maintenance is no longer optional if you want to preserve your home’s value. Simple acts of maintenance stop the little things from becoming expensive problems.
The Roof Is The Most Important Place To Start
Ok. Now that the boring stuff is out of the way.
Let’s talk about home maintenance tasks that actually matter.
If you were to make a list of maintenance chores every homeowner should complete… It would probably look something like this:
A comprehensive list of home maintenance tasks.
Yep. A LOT to think about.
But out of that big ol’ list. The number one place to start is the roof.
Here’s why…
When water pools on your roof it leads to leaks. Water leaks inside the home cause mold, rot and structural damage.
And that stuff costs tens of thousands of dollars to repair. Not to mention it destroys your home’s value.
Cracked shingle repair is one of the most common roofing maintenance tasks that gets neglected. Roofs endure a beating from the sun every day. Hot days are followed by cold days. Not to mention the occasional storm damage.
Weather exposure causes shingles to crack. Once those cracks appear water seeps through.
Eventually those small cracks lead to leaks. Remember what was said about leaks? Yep. They’re bad.
If you live in the Pacific Northwest rain is pretty much a given. Schedule an appointment with a trusted company that handles Roof Repair in Olympia to have your roof inspected. A reputable roofer will be able to repair cracked shingles before they lead to serious damage.
According to Verisk’s 2024 report, 38% of roofs in the U.S. are in moderate to poor condition. Properties with poor roofs experience loss costs that are 60% higher than properties with good roofing.
Don’t neglect your roof. It’s your home’s first line of defense against moisture damage.
5x Maintenance Tasks That Protect Property Value
Alright. Roof maintenance is critical but it isn’t the only home maintenance task you should be doing. Check out these five home maintenance jobs that protect your home’s value.
Inspect And Repair The Roof
This task is incredibly important. Repair cracked shingles, replace missing shingles and clear away debris on the roof’s surface at least twice a year.
Spring and fall are ideal times to do this maintenance task. Catch cracked and curling shingles before water can work its way into the underlayment and cause damage.
Did you know approximately 80% of roofs in the United States are covered in asphalt shingles?
They’re a cost-effective roofing option but they don’t last forever. Maintain your shingles and you’re taking steps to protect your home’s value from the roof down.
Clean And Maintain Gutters
If your gutters are clogged water pools around the foundation of your home. Pooling water causes cracks, flooding and expensive repairs.
Here’s the solution… Clean your gutters at least twice a year. Get rid of leaves, dirt, debris and check for loose areas. Make sure the water flows away from your home.
Service The HVAC System
Nobody wants to replace their furnace or air conditioner. System maintenance keeps them working properly and lasts longer.
An added bonus is a well maintained HVAC system is energy efficient. Meaning you save money on utilities and can advertise that when it’s time to sell your home.
Schedule annual professional maintenance and change out the filters every few months. It’s a small price to pay for big rewards.
Seal And Caulk Windows And Doors
Cracks around windows and doors are like invitations for moisture, drafts and bugs to enter your home. All of which can cause long-term damage.
Re-sealing and caulking windows takes minimal effort and is inexpensive. Not to mention it keeps your home more energy efficient and prevents water intrusion.
Inspect your windows and doors at least once a year for cracks. Look for damage after extreme weather events as well.
Maintain Exterior Paint And Siding
The outside of your home is what buyers see first. Faded paint, cracked siding and dull finishes are a sure sign you didn’t take care of the home.
Here’s the thing…
Paint and shiny siding do more than make your home look nice. Paint seals exterior surfaces and prevents water from seeping into hidden areas.
Maintain your home’s exterior and you’re one step closer to preserving your home’s value.
How To Stay On Top Of Home Maintenance Tasks
Home maintenance becomes easy when you create a schedule. Here’s a basic breakdown of home maintenance tasks by season.
Spring
- Inspect roof for cracked shingles
- Clean out gutters
- Inspect exterior paint/caulking
Summer
- HVAC service
- Inspect windows and doors for gaps
Fall
- Clean gutters
- Roof inspection before winter
Winter
- Check for ice dams
- Watch for signs of leaks inside
Maintaining your home doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Stay on top of these seasonal home maintenance tasks. Small problems won’t have a chance to turn into giant expenses.
Plus you protect your largest investment from losing value.
Bringing Your Home Maintenance Together
Home maintenance is how you protect your home’s value.
It’s not the most glamorous thing to read about. But home maintenance works.
Here are the home maintenance tasks you should be giving the most attention:
- Roof maintenance including cracked shingle repair
- Cleaning your gutters to avoid foundation issues
- HVAC maintenance to save money on utilities
- Windows and door maintenance to avoid moisture
- Maintaining your home’s exterior to improve curb appeal
Every task on this list is affordable and easy to do. Most don’t even require you to spend money.
Homeowners that keep up with maintenance on their home protect their investment. Homeowners that don’t… Lose money.
Start with your roof and work your way down. Your home’s value depends on it.
