Owning your own home is a huge investment. It’s also a lot of hard work and keeping up with seasonal maintenance can be quite overwhelming, especially if you’re juggling work and home life at the same time.
It’s not surprising that many homeowners regard maintenance as dealing with something when it breaks. Other more proactive individuals rely on using professional services, such as the gutter repairs Melbourne contractors offer. While this may work for some aspects of your maintenance to-do list, there are still some issues you need to do yourself.
The Secret is Bite-Sized Chunks
Any seasoned homeowner will tell you that the real secret to successful home maintenance lies in spreading your tasks out into smaller, more manageable chunks. Everything doesn’t have to be done all at once, but you can do something small every day.
Or, in the case of home maintenance, weekly or monthly rather than trying to do everything seasonally. Our team of experts know what it’s like to have a busy schedule. With that in mind, they’ve compiled a list of some tasks that, if done monthly, will reduce your overall chore list.
- Check the Gutters
Gutters are often on the bottom of every homeowner’s to-do list. Not because they’re saving the best for last, but because it can be an enormous chore. However, checking your gutters every month will ensure that there’s very little for you to do during the rainy season.
Another simple trick with gutter maintenance is to install gutter guards. These will significantly reduce the amount of leaves, dirt, and debris that build up in your gutters and downpipes. Remember to add the garage roof and other buildings on your property to the checklist.
It’s also a good idea to have any trees around your roof pruned to reduce any potential mess on the roof. Fortunately, you can get a professional crew to do this for you.
- Outsource Your Landscaping Tasks
If you’re dealing with a busy schedule, or your property is quite extensive, it’s a good idea to invest in a landscaping service to assist you with the bulk of the mowing and yard cleaning.
Doing this once or twice a month will keep your garden maintained, allowing you to spend more time on your flower beds and herb containers. This will make gardening seem more relaxing and less like a chore that you never have the right amount of time for.
- Spring Clean the Bathroom
Cleaning your bathroom is more than likely something you, or someone in your household, does every day. However, how often do you treat moisture-prone areas with anti-mould products to ensure that no mildew spores are growing? Do this once a month to keep these pesky spores at bay.
- Check the Plumbing
No matter how diligent you are with your home maintenance tasks, chances are that you will leave your plumbing until you have a crisis. After all, why look for more work, right?
A simple monthly check of all your plumbing will ensure that everything is still working as it should. This includes checking for leaks and other small issues that may present potential emergencies down the line. This not only gives you time to prevent a crisis but also helps you budget for new components. Remember to check your water or gas heater as well.
- Maintain Your HVAC System
You may not use your HVAC system much in the winter. This provides the ideal time for you to give it a once over as well as replace dirty filters and get it ready to improve the indoor air quality in your home. If you use your heater a lot in the winter, you’ll want to ensure that it’s still running efficiently.
- Pest Control
Not having a scheduled inspection plan with your local pest control agency, means that you will have to routinely check your property for pests such as termites. This is especially important if you’ve had a pest problem, or you’ve seen signs of an infestation.
Keep in mind that pests such as termites can cause significant damage, so, prevention is definitely better than cure in this instance. You can also go a long way toward preventing the problem by having any potential nest areas cleaned up during your yard clean-up. Alternatively, enlist with your local pest control company to do routine pest checks and treatments.
- Test Your Smoke Alarms
Another aspect you don’t want to neglect is your fire security. Ensure that you test your smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and other emergency equipment. It’s a good idea to get your children involved in this task so they get a refresher course on where everything is and how it works.
Final Thoughts
Essential home maintenance tasks don’t have to be discouraging. Make a list of everything you want done and break it down into smaller tasks that you can do throughout the season. This will ensure that you aren’t left trying to do a season’s maintenance on the only weekend you have off. The goal should always be to work smarter, not harder!