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While your home is a relatively robust asset, able to withstand the wind and rain for decades without much intervention, it still requires a minimum of maintenance to keep it in good stead. Homes, just like everything else, need love and attention from time to time to help them retain their function and value.
Many homeowners, though, are hell-bent on ignoring problems with their properties for years on end. Eventually, these issues come back to bite them, and they wind up spending way more money than they would have, had they dealt with the problem there and then.
You probably don’t want to be among these sorry people. Here are some essential home maintenance projects you can’t ignore.
Mouse Infestation
Mice love to live in homes. They offer everything they could possibly want, from shelter to a constant supply of food. For this reason, these rodents love to live alongside you, often making their burrows in cavity walls and ceilings.
If you notice droppings or scratching sounds at night in your walls, there’s a good chance that you have a mouse problem. Mice aren’t harmless. Not only do they spread disease, but they can also chew through building elements, including electrical wiring when collecting material for their nests.
Garage Door Issues
If you’re selling your home, buyers will often hire surveyors to carry out a garage door inspection. Experienced property owners know that garage doors are often one of the first things to fail, thanks to their temperamental mechanisms and many moving parts.
Thus, if you have a garage door issue, don’t put it off. Get in touch with professionals who can sort out the problem and invest now to increase the value of your home, so you don’t put buyers off.
Trim Back Overhanging Trees
Overhanging trees are not only unsightly, but they can also be a direct threat to your property and the safety of your family. Storms can damage trees, causing trunks to fall onto your roof, leading to catastrophic damage. Trees can also shed twigs and branches which land on your roof, preventing your guttering from working correctly.
Fortunately, there are some easy solutions. Many people, for instance, hire arborists to pare back trees and eliminate the chance that material will fall on their properties. Others need to remove trees altogether.
Clean Out Your Chimney
If you have a fireplace that ejects soot through a chimney, you need to ensure that you maintain it regularly, at least once every couple of years. The reason for this has to do with a substance called creosote. Creosote is a charred material given off by burning wood and coal that collects on the sides of your chimney. Over time it builds up and can, in some cases, catch fire, causing a damaging chimney fire. This fire then degrades the surrounding brickworks and can even damage the roof.
If you have a chimney, then make sure that you have it cleaned out regularly by a trained professional who knows what they’re doing.