Home Maintenance and Repairs

Your have closed on your home, moved in, now you can relax. It is not quite that easy but with a home maintenance plan you will have the road work laid out so that when maintenance or repairs need to be done you are prepared. The list below can serve has a handy guide. Please feel free to contact me and we can personalize your list. My name is Jake Shaw, "I am a home inspector and I help people." 970-361-0477 

YOUR HOME MAINTENANCE TO-DO LIST Here are some key home maintenance projects that should be on your timeline:
Within 1 Year of Purchase

• Fix outstanding issues identified as problems by your inspector during the home sale.
• Repair trip hazards like uneven steps and loose railings.
• Consider personalizing your home with new paint and flooring.
• Test your sump pump monthly to ensure good operation. ($100 to $200+ to replace)
• Check smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and ground fault circuit interrupters monthly.
• Inspect your deck for loose boards, wood rot, and rusting fasteners and hardware annually.
• Check windows for peeling paint and wood rot each year.
• Clean debris from gutters annually.
• Get your fireplace swept and chimney cleaned annually. ($300 to $400+)
• Perform annual routine HVAC system maintenance. ($100 to $200+)
• Winterize AC units each fall. (Remove window units and secure covers on outside units.)

After 2 to 5 Years of Purchase

• Seal an asphalt driveway every one to three years. (Costs vary by size.)
• Inspect caulk throughout your home and repair as needed. (Caulk typically lasts about five years.)
• Renew or refresh the protective finish on decks every three to five years.
• Wash your home’s exterior as needed.

6 Years After Purchase and Beyond

• Pump your septic tank every five to seven years. ($300 to $400+)
• Inspect your home’s grout, which lasts up to 15 years. Repair as needed.
• Replace carpeting after about 10 years.
• Refinish hardwood floors after about 20 years.
• Replace linoleum or vinyl flooring after 20 to 30 years.
• Replace your furnace after 15 to 20 years.
• Replace roofing after 20 to 30 years. (Spot repair as needed over the years.)
• Put in a new deck after 20 to 25 years.
• Plan and budget for your dream home updates — kitchen and bathroom remodels, finishing your basement and more!
• Source - Northwesten Mutual - Megan Nye