You know the saying; the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Unfortunately, most parts of a house don’t make noise when they start to wear out. A leaky pipe, a furnace issue, or the warm water that isn’t as warm as it used to be. Keeping up with home maintenance is one of those things that can fall to the wayside when we’re busy.  I’ve had opportunities to re-inspect the same house over time, and I’ve seen items identified as minor repairs become costly ones. Keeping a handle on your home’s condition may not be as straightforward as you think. The thing is, even as an inspector, I sometimes don’t take the time to really evaluate the condition of my house.

Tub/Shower Drywall Damage

You might be neglecting your home or investment’s condition if this feels uncomfortable. Besides that, you might have to budget for more expensive repairs in the future. The more you own, the harder it is to stay on top of things, especially when you are trying to fix problems or get the property rented again.

Let me give you a couple examples. In a bathtub, water migrates out of the corners and damages surrounding drywall and maybe even the flooring. There’s a lot you can do to fix it, like installing splash guard corners or getting a tub enclosure or drying the exterior areas after every use.

Exterior Siding Needing Maintenance

Exterior siding is another example. What’s the best way to tell when the exterior needs maintenance? Paint, loose or missing caulk around windows and trim, no longer shiny paint, or moisture against the siding are all signs of damage. Inadequate drainage, sprinkler stops, and flashing that’s not done right can cause these problems. I think you have the idea. Minor items become major repairs so often that I wonder if people just don’t notice them or don’t want to, but at the end of the day, if you don’t do maintenance, you will find yourself wishing you had.

Let me try putting this in a different perspective: your car needs an oil change and if it doesn’t get done, the engine will eventually start performing poorly, and if delayed too long, you will likely end up damaging the engine or worse, needing to replace the whole thing. People sometimes aren’t as diligent about home maintenance as they are about other things.

I’m here to help.  Maybe get an inspection to see how you’re doing keeping up with your home maintenance, what items need attention right now, and what others need to be added to your honey-do list.  My experience as an inspector and contractor means I’m only a phone call away if you need to schedule an inspection or are looking to make changes or upgrades to your property.

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