It’s time to start thinking about home maintenance

Maintaining your Shared Ownership home is an important part of homeownership. A well-kept home can not only enhance your quality of life and general comfort, but it also helps to retain your home’s value.

It might seem too early to be thinking about the colder months, especially when the sun is shining, but working on some important home maintenance today can help avoid any nasty surprises during autumn and winter!

Below are some key home maintenance jobs to be thinking about for your Shared Ownership home: 

Avoiding damp

Damp appearing in your home is a serious concern, both for home maintenance and your personal health. To prevent this, ensure there is proper ventilation, by opening windows or using an extractor fan where available when cooking or showering. Regularly opening windows to allow air to circulate also helps, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day.

Maintaining paintwork

Now is a great time to carry out some paintwork upkeep – check for cracked or peeling paint on your walls, and give any tired walls a fresh lick of paint. This can impact the aesthetic and feel of your home and help to keep it looking fresh and up to date further down the line.

Clearing gutters and drains

Guttering and drains are aspects of home maintenance that are often overlooked. These can become blocked with leaves and other debris, especially if they’ve not been used in a while. This can cause serious problems with overflowing, especially in autumn and winter, and it can even pose a fire risk in very hot and dry conditions. You should regularly clear away foliage like fallen leaves, moss, and grass, to keep gutters clear, safe, and working effectively.

Insulating and draught proofing

Take some time now to ensure your home is properly insulated and prevent any potential drafts. You’ll be glad you did this bit of home maintenance when the temperature drops! If your home isn’t maintaining heat or keeping out the cold, your energy bills could increase as you use more heating to try to compensate.

Checking your boiler

Maintaining a functioning boiler is one of the most important aspects of home maintenance, with life being uncomfortable and inconvenient without it. Regularly checking your boiler and keeping up to date with any services reduces the risk of faults or irreparable damage. Better to address any issues now, rather than waiting until you really need it later in the year!

Upgrading appliances

Older appliances can be less efficient and cost more to repair. Upgrading a faulty appliance that regularly lets you down can also save you money and time on maintenance. As with your boiler, it’s worth digging out any seasonal appliances now to make sure they still work effectively, before you start relying on them again.

You can find more guides on homeownership here, covering things like maintaining your Shared Ownership home, financial planning, and getting ready for a future sale.