There are countless benefits to maintaining your property, whether you’re a homeowner or a landlord. Keeping your property in a good condition means that it sustains its value, or could even add value. Maintenance checks should ideally be completed annually to help you catch any little problems before they grow into bigger ones, which could subsequently be damaging to both your precious time and money!
Top tips from professional building contractors
Make sure your property is always in tip-top shape ready for any party hosting, new tenants or when wanting to sell up and move on. As a professional building contractor, we have a few tips for staying on top of property maintenance. Here are ten tips and tasks that should become routine practices over time:
Grout between tiles
Throughout the year, bathroom and kitchen tiles can begin to crack and the bathroom sealant can become damaged too. These cracks mean that the material is no longer waterproof and therefore tiles become looser and water can begin to leak through, damaging your surfaces, walls and even your floors. A good tile grout doesn’t cost an arm and a leg either and there are plenty of how-tos online to help guide you through it. If in doubt, ask around to those who have done it before. A new tile grout and bathroom sealant can get your bathroom looking clean and healthy again!
Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
As both these devices protect the safety of us and those around us, this makes it one of the most important on the list. Regularly maintain and test them at least once a month as doing so will give you peace of mind. Whilst testing, listen carefully to the sound they make as alarms that are running low on battery power will make a low beeping tone. Change the batteries annually to make sure they’re always at optimum performance and don’t forget to test them once changed. If you’re a landlord, it’s your job to test them initially before someone moves in, but also the tenant’s responsibility to test them too.
Check for water damage and leaks
Every few months, it’s a good idea to check for any water damage or places where there could be leakage into your property. Alternatively, checking after any heavy rain, snow or on hot days when pipes could start to sweat is good practice. Inspect for any signs of water around your windows, doors and toilets and under sinks and boilers too. Identifying a water leak early means that it’s unlikely to develop into a bigger problem – for example, mould can start to form on surfaces and walls which can be potentially dangerous and cause health problems for you and others living in the property.
Cleans the gutters
When the gutters become neglected they can become clogged with leaves, sticks and debris. This, in turn, will cause a leaking roof and water damage to the exterior of your home and may begin to affect the interior if simply left. As well as this, it can also attract pests such as insects and rodents. Whether you’re a homeowner, landlord or business owner, consider cleaning out your gutters every four months or so. And, if completing the task yourself, make sure not to rest the ladder against the gutters themselves – working at height is potentially dangerous and the extra weight can cause them to collapse and potentially fall, which will call for even more maintenance to be done.
Check for pests
On the subject of pests, every month or so, consider checking your property for any critters that have infiltrated your property. The common signs include droppings, evidence of nesting, grease marks and tracks, physical damage (such as gnawing marks from rodents or damaged wood caused by termites) and damaged plants. To prevent any unwanted creatures from entering your property, there are a few things that can help. For example, cleaning your kitchen and maintaining your garden are ways of keeping the pests at bay, but it’s always worth owning a few ant and insect sprays and traps if you’re nervous. Otherwise, call in any local pest control services to help.
Bleed the radiators
During the summer, begin preparing for the winter season by bleeding the radiators when they’re not in use. Radiators are prone to trapped air bubbles in their pipes which will affect the heating of your home during the colder months. A substandard heating system can lead to damp spots which could reduce your property’s value. Bleeding your radiators can get rid of any lurking air bubbles and prepare them for the winter.
Boost insulation and check your boiler
When it comes to heating, you should also consider checking how insulated your property is before winter. Checking your boiler will also help with this – one of the worst things is for a boiler to pack up during peak winter time. Whether you have single or double glazing, inspecting the insulation on your property can prevent heat leaving your home. In turn, this can prevent health problems, save money on energy bills and be better for the environment in the long-term.
Add a lick of paint
Adding a lick of paint will not only improve your property’s kerb appeal but also help add a fresh layer of protection to your window frames and doors too. Did you know that one of the annoyances of property viewing is a shabby door in need of a new paint job? Painting the exterior of your home can increase the perceived value by a quarter! A fresh paint job can transform any room within the home also, as well as adding temporary protection and disguise from mould and cracks. Summer is considered the best time to be carrying out any paint jobs as the finish will be more durable and walls and wood won’t be damp.
Check your electrics
Electricity is such a necessity in this day and age but can be dangerous too. Checking your electricity every so often will prevent any hazards occurring, including potential shocks or sparks that could harm you or cause a fire within your property. Regularly check your plug sockets for signs of damage or scorch marks, as this will indicate a deeper problem behind the wall. Any leads and wires that run loose around the house need to be checked for any damage also, as well as making sure no sockets or extension leads are overloaded.
In terms of appliances around the property, such as TVs, microwaves and kettles, check they all work efficiently and there is no damage or worrying buzzing sounds. You can also do this with any interior or exterior lights around the property. Finally, inspect the fuse box for any signs of damage. If anything noticeable presents itself, remember not to tackle it yourself – call our a professional electrical engineer to fix the problem safely and quickly.
Call in a building company
At times, maintaining and renovating your home can get a bit much and, unless you’re a DIY expert, certain parts of your property can begin to deteriorate and there could be potentially harmful risks. If property maintenance seems like an overwhelming concept, consider calling in the professionals to help and find a contractor near you today. With skilled expertise and trained engineers, a building or renovation company will have the right specialists for the job, from dealing with pipes and sockets to roofs or double glazing. Most professional property maintenance companies, like us at John Mutch, will have plumber and electrician services available in their arsenal too.
John Mutch Building Services – Top Property Maintenance Company
At John Mutch, we understand how crucial it is to maintain a property and keep up with household repairs. With our expert handyman services, we are able to provide top-quality plumbing, electrical, decorating and joinery services, as well as boiler, central heating, roofing and locksmith services. Renovating properties, whether for a homeowner, landlord or business, is at the heart of what we do. We at John Mutch cater for Aberdeen and surrounding areas and have over a decade of handyman experience. Call us today for a free quote or speak to one of our friendly team about how we can help.
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