5 Ways to Maintain the Value of Your Home| JO Contractors

Your home is a valuable investment. In fact, for many Americans, it's one of the biggest financial and time investments they will make. Protect that investment by maintaining the value of your property against the ravages of time and changing trends. How can you do this? Here are five key ways to accomplish it on any budget. 

1. Make Repairs

First and foremost, make sure that you keep up with needed maintenance and repairs. The best way to approach this is often to set aside a dollar amount (or percentage of the home's value) each month as a fund for repairs and maintenance. This includes everything from carpet cleaning and deck power washing to roof repairs. 

Scheduled maintenance is a good investment as this helps avoid costly repairs and replacements later on. And you should prioritize repairs or maintenance work that affects the structure of the home rather than cosmetic changes. 

2. Update Appliances

Old appliances will give away an old home faster than many other types of aging elements. Most appliances have an operational life expectancy of between 9 and 15 years. As they reach their age limit - or as they start to look outdated - update to modern models that feature popular technology and energy efficiency.

Your appliances don't need to be the most expensive, fanciest versions, though. It's more important to keep them all reasonably and equally modern than to go all-out on any one item. 

3. Spruce Up the Exterior

Your home's exterior is the first impression made on visitors and future home buyers. What impression does it give? Is the paint faded and peeling? Has the landscape become overgrown or littered with ailing plants that never quite thrived? Does the exterior fit the style and theme of the house? Does it look good compared to neighbors? If not, what can you do to improve its character? 

Think about your outdoor entertainment and lounge areas along with the yard and home. Modern home buyers value outdoor living, so updates in this area keep up with current trends. And keeping up will help your home's value keep up as well. 

4. Create a Schedule

Putting off renovations eventually means that you'll need to do a huge remodel in order to update all the areas that have become dated over the years. Instead, craft a schedule for doing smaller, individual updates on an annual or biannual basis. You might update one bathroom this year, add an outdoor barbeque next year, and install new windows the year after, for instance.

On a tighter budget? Smaller renovations like painting, adding molding, boosting storage, or covering the patio contribute to the home's value without a huge financial outlay. 

5. Keep It Above Board

Hire trained, licensed professionals when you have work done. While skipping important steps like permits, specific skilled trade contractors, or behind-the-scenes wiring and plumbing improvements may save some money now, it will devalue your home. Buyers want a home they know is up to code and renovated reliably. Failure to provide this assurance will mean lower prices when negotiating a home sale. 

Could your home use some assistance in any of these areas? No matter what you've done - or not done - to maintain the value of your home in the past, now is a great time to think about how you can do more in the future. And a skilled contractor can help. 

Virginia homeowners can call on the team at JO Contractors. We will work with you to craft a plan that includes what your home needs on a budget you can afford. Contact us today to make an appointment or have your questions answered.