For many people, an ultimate life goal is owning a forever home. It’s that one special house or property that really feels like home. It might have some land, a swimming pool, historic charm and architecture, or it might just give you your own office and space to work or relax in. We all have a list of requirements, and the aim of buying, selling and moving properties often is to get to that end goal of acquiring a dream property. Once you find it however, is that truly it? I think we all know the answer to that! In addition to just decorating and cosmetic changes, our beloved dwellings require more thorough home maintenance and upkeep over the years to keep them attractive, safe and habitable. *This post contains affiliate links.

We all want to feel safe and secure in our homes, and we also want to ensure that we can protect our homes from all sorts of things that could potentially go wrong during ownership. There are going to be necessary home improvements over time, building work that should be done, landscaping that must be managed, and the list goes on and on. Therefore it is worthwhile to start looking into some of the ways that you can potentially protect your forever home. Not just from hardship and damage, but also from any financial loss you could experience. Today I am sharing some basic ways you can protect and care for your “home sweet home.”

 Take on some of the chores you don’t enjoy doing.

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There are plenty of chores and home maintenance jobs that we simply don’t enjoy doing. Sure, we may all have our own cleaning schedules that we adhere to so that we are able to keep the interior of our homes looking clean and tidy. But what about the exterior of our properties? There will always be yearly chores that we keep meaning to do but would much rather put off for another day. Clearing out the gutters, inspecting pipework, repairing cracks, taking care of the gardens and keeping a close eye on any large trees growing nearby are absolutely essential chores that must be done to protect our forever homes. Trees can cause damage to foundations and property grounds, so it is always worth ensuring you know where you stand with them.

No one enjoys doing labor intensive jobs like the gutters! But making sure these tasks are updated and checked regularly can protect your home and help you to avoid any issues with financial repairs in the future. Learning a few DIY skills and keeping basic tools on hand are necessary parts of home ownership that will ensure the safety and value of your home in the long run.

 Think of the security of your home and what you can do to protect it.

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We can all do more to protect our home, and with the advancements of technology, we can certainly be more proactive. What we can’t do, however, is predict what opportunists or thieves are going to do and when they might strike. You may go throughout your whole life and never be subject to the devastation that a house break in can cause. However, what is in your control is how you protect your home.  You should certainly have fire alarms installed on all floors and be sure to check the batteries periodically. And it seems like a no-brainer, but always lock your home and car doors. I learned that the hard way a few years ago when I had my purse stolen right out of my car parked in the driveway, the day before Thanksgiving! I had to cancel all our credit cards and close our bank accounts the day before my favorite holiday, simply because I neglected to lock the door. 

You could also consider upgrading your alarm system. These days you can have additional security options such as security cameras or surveillance on the exterior and interior of your home. There is even an alarm system you can purchase that will enable you to see who is lurking at your front door. Additional fences, gates and even having a dog can all be great security measures to put in place as well. 

Could you benefit from any additional insurance or warranty policies?

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Not all of us can predict if things are going to go wrong with our home, especially if things look great on the surface. We can also be subject to weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances that again can affect our homes. This is when additional policies that you could put in place could help you to cover any financial issues. Websites like https://housemethod.com/providers/home-warranty-reviews/ could mean that you get a decent warranty in place that could cover things in your home. Insurance policies for buildings and even the contents in your home can also be put in place to help protect yourself from adverse conditions and unforeseen situations.

Have you fully considered any plans you have for home improvements?

Finally, have you fully considered the plans you want to make in your home? Could you do anything that could make things better? Adding extensions and changing floor plans in your home to better suit your visions and family can be a great way to make the home more user-friendly. But you need to ensure that you consider and plan things out according to approval with local organizations. You may also want to really consider your budget and what you can do to protect yourself once the project begins to take shape.

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Being a homeowner is can be a rewarding experience. By following these simple home maintenance and upkeep and safety suggestions you can be sure to protect your forever home— and your peace of mind.

Amber

There really is nothing quite like being able to solve a problem in your home all by yourself. It can save so much money and also allows you to achieve the home of your dreams. Whether it’s from home renovations shows like Fixer Upper on HGTV,  Hometalk and DIY video tutorials that seem to show up on your Facebook feed all the time, or simply watching friends and family do it, the idea of being able to fix up your home by yourself is something that’s incredibly attractive for a lot of people.

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Of course, there’s one important barrier for a lot of people being able to do just that: they have absolutely no idea where even to start and get overwhelmed. I talk to people all the time who might have the drive to do it themselves, but they have no idea what that would even entail. With that in mind, I decided to share Five Easy Steps To Becoming A DIY Expert. Here are some things that you need to do in order to turn yourself into the DIY pro that you’ve always dreamed of being. *This post contains affiliate links.

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