“Wow, your new furnace is SO hot! I love it!”
These are not the words often spoken by friends, relatives or anyone visiting your home (unless it’s me or an HVAC professional).
How often do you daydream about a new roof, or watch HGTV just hoping they would produce a show that focuses on the siding, roof, furnace, plumbing, electrical? My guess is rarely, if ever.
Homeowners typically like to put their money into the sexy stuff – the kitchen, the master bathroom, the paint colors, light fixtures, window treatments — a.k.a. the real estate eye candy. Understandably so, it’s where you can see where you spent your money. You aren’t inviting your friends and family over to see your new furnace or asking their opinions on roof shingles.
But, it is the systems of the house and the structural components that keep a house from deteriorating – regardless of how shiny your new granite counters may be or how beautiful your new built-ins are in the basement. When you go to sell your house, it will be the eye candy that will grab the buyers and bring them in, hopefully to make an offer to purchase your home. But (a big but), it will be about how well you have updated and maintained the systems that will keep the buyers in the picture – especially after the home inspection.
When maintaining your home, it is important to take into consideration the components that make your house run:
Furnace: The average furnace lasts around 20-25 years, depending on efficiency and maintenance of the system. You should have a contract with a heating company. It will be important to ask them to:
Homeowners typically like to put their money into the sexy stuff – the kitchen, the master bathroom, the paint colors, light fixtures, window treatments — a.k.a. the real estate eye candy. Understandably so, it’s where you can see where you spent your money. You aren’t inviting your friends and family over to see your new furnace or asking their opinions on roof shingles.
But, it is the systems of the house and the structural components that keep a house from deteriorating – regardless of how shiny your new granite counters may be or how beautiful your new built-ins are in the basement. When you go to sell your house, it will be the eye candy that will grab the buyers and bring them in, hopefully to make an offer to purchase your home. But (a big but), it will be about how well you have updated and maintained the systems that will keep the buyers in the picture – especially after the home inspection.
When maintaining your home, it is important to take into consideration the components that make your house run:
Furnace: The average furnace lasts around 20-25 years, depending on efficiency and maintenance of the system. You should have a contract with a heating company. It will be important to ask them to:
- During the winter months, visit your home to inspect the filters and replace if needed as well as inspecting the fan belts
- Inspect the chimney and vents for corrosion, damage and leaks
- Ensure that all of the vents are clear and that there are no obstructions
- As the homeowner, keep the area surrounding the furnace clutter-free. The furnace should be in a room with sufficient air supply, not in a closet or area that is air tight
Roof: Unless you are the Colonnade Hotel in Boston with a fabulous rooftop deck and pool overlooking the city, the real purpose of a roof is to protect the home. The typical lifespan of a roof depends on the materials used, the number of layers, and the weather. Most often, in Sudbury, asphalt shingles are used – they usually last 18-20 years, and that depends on how the roof is maintained, whether there are a lot of trees hanging over it, the weather, and how the roof was installed.
A few ways to maintain your roof and discover if there are potential issues:
- check the attic – do you see any discoloration on the sheathing?
- look for curling or cracked shingles on the roof
- keep the gutters clean
- remove any tree branches resting on the roof
- check the flashing, make sure its not rusted or loose.
(Note: do not go on your roof unless you are a licensed and insured roofing professional.)
Hot water heater: A hot water heater costs less than removing the wallpaper and painting 4 rooms in your house, and is much more important than the paint colors. If you like hot water and don’t want a flood in your basement, it would be wise to check the age of your hot water heater. There is not a lot you need to do to maintain it, but it does usually have a lifespan of approximately 8-10 years. Once it starts to leak, it doesn’t stop.
Siding/paint: Houses are not just painted in order to look pretty from the street. There are many benefits to painting that will preserve the house. Paint protects the house from all of the outside elements – rain, snow, UV rays, pests, ice, etc. When having your house painted, the painter and/or carpenter should be able to replace any rotted wood, trim and fill in any holes.
Buyers want to have their candy and be able to eat it, too. Just as a homeowner may choose to put his/her money into the glitzy stuff, the buyer(s) will not want to purchase a great looking house, move in, and then have to replace the siding, put on a new roof, buy a new furnace and upgrade the electrical to handle the central air that they will need to install.
Siding/paint: Houses are not just painted in order to look pretty from the street. There are many benefits to painting that will preserve the house. Paint protects the house from all of the outside elements – rain, snow, UV rays, pests, ice, etc. When having your house painted, the painter and/or carpenter should be able to replace any rotted wood, trim and fill in any holes.
Buyers want to have their candy and be able to eat it, too. Just as a homeowner may choose to put his/her money into the glitzy stuff, the buyer(s) will not want to purchase a great looking house, move in, and then have to replace the siding, put on a new roof, buy a new furnace and upgrade the electrical to handle the central air that they will need to install.
Set aside a budget to take care of the maintenance items annually so that when you do sell your home, you won’t just be in for a mechanical and structural extreme makeover.
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