If you have just been handed the keys to your first property, congrats and all that jazz! It is not easy to get mortgage approval in Australia these days, then there’s the hefty deposit, which is never easy to find. However you did it, you are now the proud owner of your first piece of real estate and building maintenance is part and parcel of property ownership.
Here are a few great building maintenance tips to help you protect your asset,
- Pre-source essential local services– When you are in urgent need of Inner West plumbing services, the last thing you need it to try and find a local24-hour plumber. Services to pre-source include plumber, electrician, drain cleaner, carpenter, locksmith and tree surgeon, while hooking up with a local telecommunication provider will take care of the phone and Internet connections. Store all numbers in your smartphone, which you can bring up in the hour of need.
- Don’t delay repairs– If there is one consistency in property management, it is that minor issues quickly develop into major ones. The sooner you carry out repairs, the cheaper it will be. Leaks in the roof can quickly lead to serious repair bills, as water destroys almost all building materials.
- The importance of regular roof inspections– The roof is the one part of the house that you cannot see from ground level, therefore, you should ask a local roofer to inspect the roof on an annual basis. The roofing contractor issues you a detailed report on the status of your roof and should there be any ongoing issues, they would recommend immediate repair.
- Home improvements– Of course, you will wish to make some improvements and if your budget is tight, why not sharpen your DIY skills? Not only that, if you have the tools and the know-how, you can carry out minor repairs, which will save you a fortune in labour costs. Over a period of time, you can acquire all the tools you need and YouTube hosts thousands of how to videos about building repairs. Whatever the job, there will be a YouTuber that has easy-to-follow videos to help you and if you encounter any issues, there are online forums where you can get expert advice. Click here for information about trenchless pipe repair.
- Use local businesses – All homeowners should use local services for building repairs and maintenance, which supports the community; once you find a good local plumber, always use them when you have water or waste issues. Even well-known brands are owned by local franchisees, so you are helping the community in the same way. Creating long-term working relationships with local businesses usually leads to lower prices and better service.
Your new home is probably the biggest single investment you have ever made and it does make perfect sense to maintain the building to preserve its value. On top of regular building maintenance, you will probably wish to start making some home improvements sooner rather than later and your new-found DIY skills can come into play.