4 Ideas to Extend Your Home’s Longevity
Finding ways to improve your home helps you get the most out of your investment. It’s always a good idea to have measures in place in case of a natural disaster or an emergency situation.
Making the proper preparations ahead of time can save you a lot of hassle in these situations. Check out these four tips to help improve your home and extend its longevity.
1. Get High-Quality Locks For Your Main Entrances
If you’re really interested in protecting your home, the lock that comes with your front door isn’t enough. Locks are an important part of the physical security of your home. As many as 34% of burglars enter through the front door which makes investing in a quality lock worth your money.
When looking for locks, look for ones with high-grade lock cylinders. Keyless entry locks are also a good idea since there are no physical keyholes for criminals to attempt to pick the lock. Make sure you don’t get a keyless lock that’s just designed for convenience. You need a highly rated lock, preferably a deadbolt.
2. If You Live In An Area At Risk For Flooding, Consult A Plumber
If your home is at risk for flooding, good leak detection equipment is a valuable investment. Plumbers can help ensure your property is appropriately equipped to handle flooding. A plumber can install a backwater valve, which stops water and sewage from entering your home during heavy rainfall.
Plumbers can also help you with leak detection by installing sensors in specific areas of your home. Discovering leaks in their infancy can be the difference between a quick fix and a 5-figure repair job. Plumbers have lots of expertise to help protect your home from flooding.
3. Invest In Protecting Your HVAC System
When flooding, hurricanes or other natural disasters are a possibility; having a working HVAC system is a necessity. It’s worth getting a professional to elevate your hot water tank and, so they’re not sitting directly on your basement floor. Regularly changing your filters will also help you get a high level of performance.
If you end up having to evacuate your home, shut off the electrical breaker. Shutting off the breaker will reduce the chance of electrical damage to your HVAC system such as blown circuits. It’s also worth investing in a cover for your unit. As mentioned before, elevating your unit will help in case of flooding. Consider getting a contractor to raise your air conditioning unit, generators, and fuel tanks at least a foot above flood level.
4. Maintain A Consistent Appearance On Your Property
Criminals and other undesirables keep an eye on the state of your property. People are less likely to tamper with your home if the property looks active. If you’re going on a vacation, consider getting your neighbor to continue mowing the lawn and picking up your paper. Putting your lights on a timer is also a good way to make it look like people are home at night.
Keeping your trees, bushes, and hedges well trimmed also helps protect your property. Trim any branches overhanging branches that may allow thieves to climb on your roof. In homes with a large bay window, you may want to plant some shrubs to help obstruct the view from outside your home.
All in all, a few preventative measures can go a long way. The more measures you put in place to protect your home, the easier it is to command a high price once you’re ready to sell. Implementing these four tips will help extend your home’s longevity.