A very dear friend of mine, Marie, has lived in the same home for over 50 years. She and her husband raised their 3 children in this first and only home, and as you can imagine there are plenty of memories stored there. Oh you can bet things have changed over those 50 years, including the once rural landscape. Her home now sits on a busy thoroughfare, but it’s still home sweet home to my friend and she plans on staying there forever.
Recently while visiting with Marie, she shared how she and her husband had managed to stay in love with their home over all these years. Marie’s husband passed away a few years ago, but she continues to follow his philosophy for taking care of their home. After she shared her late husband’s system with me, I dubbed it an “MRI” for homes. Every homeowner should follow this prescription to keep their home in top-notch condition and to help maximize the re-sale value too.
Chances are your home is your largest investment. You’ll want to protect it, help it keep up its value and even increase in value over the years. There’s 3 things that you can do to insure that your home stays healthy so to speak and if you follow this wise advice, you’re sure to love and enjoy your home for many years, and probably even fall in love with it over and over. Those 3 things are regular Maintenance, Repairs, & Improvements—or MRI.
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Maintenance. Always remember home is the place where memories are made and where you can spend your retirement years. Keep your home safe and comfortable by addressing the everyday wear and tear items while they’re small and before they become big problems. Change filters, clean gutters, caulk and paint on a regular schedule to name a few common maintenance items.
Repairs. Even if you’re diligent with maintenance, systems fail and things break. You should have some money set aside for repair items that come up. The quicker you fix something that’s broken the less future damage it does. For instance, a plumbing leak can damage flooring, walls, and cause mold issues, so the sooner you repair the leak the less it will cost you in the long run.
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Improvements. As time goes on there are improvements you will want to make. Improvements can be costly, so it would be wise to budget for future improvements that are on your wish list. Improvements keep your home up to date and help it to maintain its value too. Certain improvements, like kitchens, baths, and decks can actually add value to your home. Other improvements are for your own enjoyment.
Keep up with these things on a regular schedule and not only will your home be happy, but you’ll be happy with your home too. Has your home had an MRI lately? It’s not too late.
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