There are so many perks to being a homeowner; it is better than renting for most people. However, with ownership, comes responsibility. What this means is that as a homeowner you will not have a landlord who will take care of home repairs and upgrades for you. Taking care of your home is vital to maintain not only your living experience, but also the value of the home. Home maintenance and repairs can be costly, especially if you must hire people to do them. So, we have a list of basic DIY projects that all homeowners should know so that you can take care of your home without breaking the bank.
Learn how to do these DIYs to save money on home maintenance and repairs:
- REPLACING A FAUCET
A broken faucet can happen at the most inopportune times. Knowing how to replace it yourself will save you time and money. Even if you just want to upgrade to a newer, more aesthetically pleasing faucet, this is a great skill to have. You will be able to fix/upgrade your kitchen, bathroom and even your laundry room! And if you learn how to replace a faucet, you might as well learn how to fix a leaky faucet too, so that you can possibly salvage the one that you have. How to Install a Kitchen Faucet
- SEALING DRAFTS
Drafts can not only make your home feel warmer in the summer and colder in the winter, but they can also put a hurting on your wallet as well. Drafts can cause your heating and cooling bills to go up. Knowing how to seal drafts yourself will save you money in more ways than one. You won’t have to hire someone to do it for you AND you will have lower heating/cooling costs. How you seal the drafts will depend upon where they are coming from (windows and doors). Options include caulking gaps, installing weatherstripping, and using gap filler. Keeping your home draft-free is a simple way to keep your home comfortable while also keeping costs down.
- REPAIRING A CLOGGED OR RUNNING TOILET
A running or clogged toilet is a problem all homeowners have had to deal with at one time or another…probably on multiple occasions. And trust me, you do NOT want to have to call a plumber every time it happens. Learning how to take care of these problems yourself will save you loads of time and money. Unclogging a toilet is relatively simple if you have the right kind of plunger and know how to utilize it. Repairing a running toilet might be a little more complex, but still fairly ease…even for beginners. It’s a worthwhile thing to learn! How to Fix a Running Toilet
- REPLACING FURNACE FILTERS
While new DIYers probably shouldn’t get too involved with projects that involve a furnace or water heater, one thing you should be aware of is how to replace a furnace filter. This is a quick and easy job that should be done yearly to keep your HVAC system working efficiently. It will also assist in keeping dust out of the air in your home. Some furnace filters are permanent and need to be cleaned at least annually, others are disposable and should be replaced. How to Change Your Home Air Filter
- UNCLOGGING A DRAIN
Clogged drains are a common issue for all homeowners. This can especially be a problem if you live in a older home. Whether it’s the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, or even the shower, a clogged drain can cause a lot of problems. Knowing how to unclog it yourself will not only allow you to solve the problems quickly but will save you the money it would cost to have a plumber do the job.
Taking the time to learn how to do these simple fixes for household maintenance and repair will allow you to save your money for other, more complex issues that will require outside assistance.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the New River Valley area, contact professional, experienced Realtor Desi Sowers and let her assist you with all your real estate needs. Give her a call today at 540-320-1328!
Photo Credits: lowes.com, goodhousekeeping.com, mrrooter.ca, cleanalert.com, homedepot.com