Keeping a house in good condition is an ongoing responsibility, whether you’re renting or buying. If you own your home, then everything rests on your own shoulders. When every day is full and busy it’s easy to let the little things slide until they become big, urgent jobs.
Renters may have the advantage of handing over the heaviest responsibility to their landlord, but day to day care and vigilance is still down to the person living there. Your landlord can’t help if you don’t tell them something is wrong.
So, for both renters and owners, we’ve put together a quick list of things to keep an eye on. It’s not exhaustive, but it should help.
Declutter for Easier Cleaning
Few of us can honestly say we have all the storage we need. And if we start out that way, available storage space can soon fill up.
Sufficient storage is vital in the war on clutter. Keeping surfaces clear, cupboards neatly arranged and having a designated place for most (if not all) things, makes it easier to get into all the corners when you’re cleaning up. And if you can get into all the corners, you’ll more quickly spot any potential problems.
Damp can be very destructive to property and possessions, for instance. It can easily accumulate in areas where there’s not much air flow, such as in bedroom corners, behind furnishings in living rooms or in the bathroom.
If storage space at home is limited, consider renting a self storage unit to help clear some space. Local self storage is usually easy to get to and may cost less than you imagine.
Having that extra room will let you open your interior space up and organise things to help keep the house clean and fresh. Self storage is also scalable. If you need more room, you can rent more, and vice versa if your storage needs become less.
Tackle Small Jobs Straight Away
A big benefit of clearing clutter is noticing potential troubles as you go. Small problems that need sorting out before they grow into big ones include:
- Leaking radiators – check the thermostat valves for wetness and keep an eye on the carpet beneath.
- Mould – any signs of mould need swift attention. Around ceilings, in high or low corners, in the bathroom or kitchen or around windows are the commonest places. If you spot any, treat it and, if possible, take action against mould to prevent it coming back.
- Touching up paintwork – especially around doors and door frames. Damaged paintwork can expose the wood to damp and that can cause wood to swell, making doors stick.
- Tile grouting – clean it regularly to prevent mould or discolouration and damage. Damaged grouting can let moisture through which could eventually harm the walls or cause the tiles to fall off.
- Dripping taps – it might seem a small thing, but they waste water and can cause external pipes to freeze in winter.
Maintain a Service or Check Schedule
Time flies, and sometimes even legally needed things like the car MOT can creep up on you. Other things, like boiler services that aren’t always required by law, are even easier to overlook or put off. Add the dates these things are due to your calendar so you don’t forget them.
Other tasks are more a question of observance and take no more than a quick look or inspection. Here’s a short list of tasks that you could add to according to your personal needs.
- Gas, electrical appliances – arrange an annual service for your main appliances, to keep them working efficiently and make sure they stay safe.
- Chimney cleaning for open fires and stoves – if you have an open fire or use a wood burner, maintain the chimney or flues to keep them clear.
- External taps and pipes – check the lagging every year on pipes and make sure the taps don’t drip.
- Garden shrubs or trees that might pose a hazard – keep shrubs or trees that grow close to the house trimmed and neat.
- Guttering and roof – inspect regularly for leaks or slipped and damaged tiles.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – check their batteries and make sure they’re working.
There’s a lot to juggle and think about for home maintenance. Keep it as simple as you can by using self storage to prevent overfilling the house and keep a schedule calendar for regular maintenance checks.
It’ll save money in the long run, make the house easier to sell when the time comes, or protect your deposit if you’re renting.
*This is a collaborative post
