Lets understand one thing here. Just like cars, mobile phones, and humans, homes also are in need of periodic maintenance. You have to admit, today homes don’t come cheap these days. And the age of saying “stitch in time, saves nine” still holds good. 

In this article we want to touch upon certain aspects of maintenance.

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We can classify the maintenance into two categories

- Fix the issue

- Replace problematic parts

First, being the home owner, you need to agree upon a frequency of check and execute this to perfection. It is just like having 2 to 3 services a year for your car.

The frequency can be less initially , say 2 times a year.

This has to/will increase for older homes. We think of 4 to 6 times a year.

But there is no formula as such. You are the best judge here.

Common areas which needs to be checked and maintained are:

• Bathroom fittings

These include but are not limited to faucets, flush mechanism, taps, WC, shower, drainage.  Regular issues which tend to occur are leakage, breaking, clogging, corrosion and more.

If one of the above issues is seen, it is best to change the device to avoid the problem getting more serious later on.

• Electrical appliances

These include but are not limited to electrical bulbs, tube-lights, washing machines, air conditioners, refrigerators etc.

Longevity related issues, sudden stop in functionality, clogs/leaks and all can be observed in the electrical appliances. These are not to taken lightly as serious electrical shock hazards have resulted in cases due to negligence of faulty appliances. Not to mention tons of clothes to be washed or a summer day without your air-conditioner working

• Structural issues

You have to ensure that the floor is OK, the walls have their corners intact (they can get chipped if you try to move some heavy equipment and bang them against the wall).

Similarly, the paint has to be checked for peeling, patches or fading effects. Keeping the house painted once in a while is a nice way of enhancing its aesthetic value.

Floors in bathroom and kitchen and in common areas also need to be checked for cracks and voids.

• Doors , windows are more

Any part of your home which is made from wood or iron has to be checked more than others. Wood tends to attract termites or gather moisture making it tough to close doors and also the door/window becomes very weak and eventually will fall apart.

Iron/metal based grills, hinges , door stoppers and all such items need to be checked for corrosion. If neglected, they can cause lot of problems later on.

Remember , periodic maintenance, though sounding odd and tough is one of the best ways to protect your investment of a few tens of lakhs. Also a well maintained home has an excellent aesthetic appeal and better resale value.