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Cutting the Cost of Homeownership

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Owning your own home and keeping it in a good state of repair can be time-consuming and expensive, but it is also very necessary if you want to maximize its value and protect your investment.

The good news is, there are lots of things you can do to cut the cost of homeownership and all that it entails, including the following:

Schedule regular maintenance

You might think that scheduling regular roof checks, HVAC services, and gutter cleanings, for example, will cost you more money as a homeowner. However, if you keep things around your property in a good state of repair by having them attended to regularly rather than waiting until there is a problem, they will typically last longer and have fewer issues. This means you will save more money over the years than if you just firefight problems as they occur.

Repair broken appliances

When an appliance breakdowns, you could go out and buy an expensive new one, or you could get appliance parts online here and save yourself a bunch of money in the process. If the appliance is still relatively young, this will almost certainly be a better use of your time and money than buying new.

Replace with energy-efficient appliances

If your appliance is really old or cannot be repaired cheaply, often the best thing you can do is to replace it with new, energy-efficient devices that will lower your energy bills in the long term.

Seal windows and doors

If you are worried about the rising cost of heating your home, a really cost-effective thing you can do is to properly seal around your windows, doors, and even vents using caulk. This will make your home more energy-efficient by ensuring hot air cannot escape and cold air cannot get in, which means your bills are likely to be cheaper overall.

Use smart technology

Yes, smart technology will cost you money up front, but the amount of money it can save you as a homeowner in the long run, means that it will pay for itself in no time at all. For example, if you invest in a smart thermostat, you can turn the heating up, down, or off from a distance to avoid wasting energy, or if you invest in a smart timer, you can ensure that your appliances turn off after a certain length of time. The amount of money this can shave off your bills really is not insignificant.

Learn DIY

There are some home repairs, like electrical rewiring and anything to do with gas safety, that you should not do yourself. However, there are plenty of maintenance tasks like painting, plastering, and even basic plumbing repairs that you can do yourself if you learn how. This can save so much money by just learning how to be handier around the house that it's a real no-brainer.

As you can see, being a homeowner does not have to cost you quite as much as you might have imagined, which means you can start saving more money for your future, starting right now.

How can I reduce the cost of homeownership? What are some ideas for saving money on home maintenance? DIY, Smart Technology, Sealing windows and doors, Is it really better to replace old appliances with newer technology vs. repairing them? Home Maintenance, House

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