The moment you become a homeowner is like you’ve taken an unspoken oath committing to the maintaining of your home. That reason alone is why some people prefer to rent rather than own, but there is indeed a great reward in owning your home… it just comes with the responsibility of maintenance.
Unlike renting, owning a home leaves you solely responsible for any and all repairs needed… The days of putting in a maintenance request have been replaced by calling various specialists to take on jobs that are beyond your realm of knowledge.
In addition to knowing the home repairs that should be left to professionals, it’s also important to know the home repairs that all homeowners should know how to do as well. Yes, you can call the pros for those repairs but it would really be a huge waste of money when they’re easy enough for you to do on your own. This is not only going to save you money but it’s also going to help you learn the inner workings of your home.
Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or a seasoned vet, take a look at the home repairs you should be able to do without the help of professionals.
Easy Fixes All Homeowners Need to Know How to Do
Recaulk a Bathtub
Your bathtub was shiny and new when you first moved in, but over time, the moisture from humidity tends to wreak havoc on the caulking around your tub. When you notice the caulking around your tub start to fade away or see the growth of mold, it’s time to recaulk.
For this easy fix, you simply remove the old caulk with a utility/putty knife and wipe away residue. Tape the perimeters of the area you want to caulk, and then apply the caulk. Once applied, smooth with an ice cube and remove the tape… You now have a recaulked bathtub.
Hard Slams on Cabinets and Drawers
When you close your drawers or cabinets, do they make a hard slamming sound? If they do, this can easily be fixed. A simple trip to your local hardware store and buying rubber dots for cabinets is an easy fix.
Get Rid of Pests
Everyone wants a pest-free home, but depending on how severe your pest problem is, it can take a little more work than a simple can of bug spray. If your home is infested, then you, of course, want to call in the professionals but for minor issues and regular maintenance, here are a few pest control home maintenance hacks:
- Keep your kitchen clean.
- Place baking soda and sliced onion in the corners of your home to prevent roaches.
- Place cucumbers in various areas where you notice ants. The smell of cucumbers is repulsive to ants and will run them out of your home.
- Mix a cup of water with a cup of mint oil and spray it all over your home to keep spiders and other insects out of your home.
Unclog the Toilet or Sink
Every home should have a few plungers to unclog toilets and sings when they become clogged. The only thing to remember here is to make sure you get a different plunger for the sink than what you use for the toilet!
Patch Holes in the Wall
Whether you’re rehanging pictures or moving furniture around, our walls are prone to endure a few scrapes, holes, and dings… but it’s nothing you can’t remedy with a quick fix. For small holes or dings from a nail or screw, you can simply apply quick-drying spackle to make the wall look like there never were holes there in the first place. For bigger holes, you’ll need to go to the hardware store and get an actual patch kit.
All of these home maintenance repairs are easy fixes to maintain your home, and there are many more to learn. But if you feel yourself wanting to take on even bigger challenges like plumbing or electrical work, you mustn’t attempt those repairs on your own… you will indeed need the help of professional contractors.
The only way you’d be able to take on those kinds of repairs is if you follow the Virginia contractors license requirements & guide, that way you’d not only be able to work on your home but you could also work on other people’s homes, legally.
Until you get licensed, you will do just fine as a homeowner maintaining your home with these easy fixes.