4 Secrets to a Low-Maintenance Home

One of the primary turn-offs of homeownership is the need to constantly maintain the property. Whether it’s a leak under the kitchen sink or a massive hole in the roof, it seems as if there’s always something to suck up your time and money. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

 

Upgrade Your Way to a Maintenance-Free Home

 

For an inanimate object, a house sure does require a lot of attention and daily care. Left to its own devices, it’ll deteriorate and fall apart. However, when it’s well cared for, it’s capable of being enjoyed for decades to come. But the idea of a house being well-cared for doesn’t necessarily have to go hand-in-hand with the notion of spending precious hours of your week cleaning gutters, painting siding, and pulling weeds. There’s an easier way to own a home – and it involves smart updates and maintenance-free upgrades.

 

Here are a few of the best ones:

 

  1. Artificial Turf

 

Are you tired of watering, fertilizing, weeding, and mowing your lawn? Is your water bill sky high during the spring and summer months? Do you hate the fact that your lawn turns brown every winter?

 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be a candidate for replacing your grass lawn with artificial turf (also known as synthetic turf). It’s not cheap, but it looks great and lasts for 15 to 25 years.

 

“You’ve got to blow off leaves and other debris, and hose off pet waste. But there’s no mowing, seeding, edging, and fertilizing – lawn maintenance chores that take the average homeowner about 150 hours per year,” HouseLogic points out.

 

If you can fit it into your budget up front, artificial turf makes a whole lot of sense. If nothing else, you’ll be able to spend more time sitting in a lawn chair staring at your lawn and less time mowing it.

 

  1. Metal Roofing

 

The average roof holds up just fine for a few years. However, once it starts to age and enter into the final years of its useful life, the maintenance needs become nightmarish. Holes, leaks, loose shingles, and high energy costs enter the picture. But instead of replacing your roof with more of the same, consider the benefits of a metal roof.

 

“For a durable, great looking roof that will pay for itself over time, no other roof material tops metal,” Warren Roofing explains. “Metal roofing can do more than just look great and protect your home or building from rain and wind. It can also help you keep your house cooler and save energy.”

 

With today’s modern technology, manufacturing, and design, metal roofs can easily blend in with the existing architecture of even the most modern house. If you know that you’ll be staying put for a decade or more, a metal roof may be the way to go.

 

  1. Gutter Guards

 

Gutters serve a functional purpose and help channel rainwater away from siding and landscaping, which would otherwise lead to rot, erosion, and other problems. Unfortunately, gutters often collect leaves, sticks, and debris – leading to clogs that must be cleaned on a regular basis.

 

In an effort to maximize the benefits of your gutters and offset the maintenance, invest in some sort of gutter guard solution that keeps leaves out without restricting the flow of water.

 

  1. Composite Decking

 

A traditional wood deck looks great but has to be sealed on a regular basis. Plus, it tends to warp, split, and splinter. A deck made from composite lumber, on the other hand, lasts longer, looks better, and doesn’t require annual maintenance. If you’re considering building a new outdoor living area on your property, think long and hard about selecting composite decking material.

 

Fall in Love With Homeownership

 

There are plenty of perks to being a homeowner. Not only do you enjoy the freedom of being able to do what you want, but there’s also the opportunity to benefit from the value of real estate and build equity over time. But to fully cherish homeownership as it’s meant to be enjoyed, you must take the time to set yourself up for success.

 

Making maintenance-free upgrades is one solution. It’ll command some time and money up front, but you’ll look back a few years from now and be glad that you did it.

 

Where will you start?

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