Your Home is Your Castle
Being responsible for one's first or any home is exciting but equally, at times, it may be challenging. When taking on the responsibility of owning a home we, obviously, recognise the fundamental requirement to pay our mortgage or rent, as well as insuring the property and its contents.
So often, however, when it comes to looking after the fabric of our 'castle' - brickwork, roof, windows, decoration, we react to the need to undertake work rather than actually take care of our prize possession.
A proper planned programme of maintenance will both enhance the joy of living in our comfortable home and ensure our investment is enhanced. If when appropriate you decide to move and sell your property then it will be in the best possible condition for sale and will command the best possible price in the marketplace.
Create a master plan. Projects such as extensions, altering the front of the house and building a garage within feet of a boundary will need planning permission. In such instances it is wise to allow several months for the drawing up of plans and their submission to the local authority.
List what repairs and alterations may be needed (inside and out, essential and desirable). What systems need regular servicing (gas appliances), what may need replacing and when, which rooms need decorating. Look for inspiration in magazines, show homes and manufacturers brochures.
The basics need to be identified, programmed and tackled before anything else. Newly decorated walls will look good, but will be ruined if loose guttering outside allows water to seep through the brick and plasterwork.
Priority needs to be given to structural faults - pointing brickwork, external painting, plumbing, gas appliances and electrical wiring should all be checked at least every five years.
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