A well-maintained home is essential for several reasons. For one, it can add to the overall value of a property. Studies have shown that a well-maintained home can be worth up to 12% more than a home that isn’t well-maintained.
Another reason why it’s essential to keep your home in good condition is that it can help you save money on energy costs in the long run. By ensuring your home is adequately insulated and sealed, you can reduce your energy usage by up to 30%.
Finally, a well-maintained home is just plain safer. Structural problems or leaks can lead to serious safety hazards, so addressing any issues as soon as they arise is essential. Unfortunately, keeping your home up to date might not always be possible. Over time, a home can show its age and require more than just routine maintenance.
An old home can have disadvantages in safety and value, but all is not lost. There are several options to consider when your home is aging that can help you restore it. Here are a few to consider.
Create a Regular Maintenance Schedule
An aging home will reveal its sicknesses faster than a newer home. This is because an older home has had more time to accumulate wear and tear. A National Association of Home Builders study found that the average American home is nearly 40 years old. As a result, creating a more rigorous maintenance schedule that includes regular inspections, repairs, and preventative measures might be necessary.
Creating a checklist should be your first step toward building a successful maintenance routine. The list must include the areas you’d like to address, such as the roof, plumbing, electrical systems, and interior features. Those are the common potential issues for aging homes, but there might be other components particular to your home that need to be addressed.
Upgrading Your Home’s Components
Depending on the age and condition of your home, some repairs or upgrades might be necessary. If you’re dealing with plumbing issues due to aging pipes, repiping could help resolve those problems. Other potential upgrades include replacing old windows and doors, updating insulation, upgrading the HVAC system, or even adding solar panels if you’d like to reduce energy costs and support renewable energy sources.
Those might seem expensive, given how much of the home’s functional system relies on these components, but the long-term savings you’ll see from reduced energy bills and improved home value could be worth it. Technological upgrades will also be welcome, especially if you want to update the home for an eventual sale. Some of the best modern installations include a programmable thermostat, a security system, and Smart home tools, such as connected locks or automated lights.
Add a Fresh Coat of Paint
Nothing brings out the true beauty of an aging home like painting it with fresh colors. A home’s interior is mainly affected by age, so a new coat of paint can instantly improve its look and feel. Remember to consider the type of finishes available and the specific area you’re trying to paint. Some colors will be more durable than others and better suited to particular regions inside your home.
Adding some furniture or rugs can also help breathe life back into an old room, making it look cozy yet modern at the same time. Finally, pay attention to landscaping to make your home look its best. Planting flowers or trees can go a long way to making your home more appealing.
Move to a New Home
While it might be cheaper to maintain an aging home, the constant repairs and maintenance might be too much for you. In this case, starting from scratch and moving to a newer home can be best. Just to let you know, if your old home is outdated, the value could drop significantly as soon as you put it up for sale. Doing minor maintenance or renovations might help increase its value, but moving to a new home should still be an option.
You can find affordable house and land packages to suit your budget, and the repairs and maintenance will be much more manageable than an aging home. This is especially true if you purchase a new-build home, as it should come with at least two years of warranty on its components.
Final Thoughts
When your home is aging, it can be challenging to keep up with the repairs and maintenance. But there’s no need to worry; you have plenty of options. From creating a regular maintenance schedule to upgrading components or repainting, these solutions could help improve your home and save you money in the long run. Moving to a new home might be your best bet if all else fails. Whatever you decide, remember that it’s always best to be prepared for whatever life throws at you.
