Owning A Home: What Maintenance To Expect?

Owning a home can become a central part of your life, and with that comes with homeowner maintenance. What begins as a large purchase turns into so much more. There are few places better to own a home than Hampton Roads, Virginia. Hampton Roads, sometimes known as Tidewater or Coastal Virginia, is a collection of seven cities: Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. Each city offers something unique and historical to any potential homebuyer. The best part about the area, however, is that they are all connected, and you can explore the best parts of each destination.

Like owning a home anywhere, there will be a fair amount of maintenance involved in keeping your home healthy: time, money, and perhaps a few unforeseen challenges. Whether it is big projects like getting an outdated kitchen or bathroom remodeled, or a small project like pulling weeds or cutting grass, there is always something new in the life cycle of property ownership. 

WHAT MAINTENANCE IS INVOLVED WITH OWNING A HOME?

Day to day tasks like taking out the trash and recyclables, draining the garbage disposal in your sink, and making sure your home is clean are time-consuming and require effort weekly. There are other household maintenance tasks that should be performed on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. These tasks include: replacing your home’s HVAC air filters, cleaning your garbage disposal, testing your safety and fire alarms, and ensuring your air and heat vents are not blocked by furniture or décor.

These are your standard, somewhat frequent homeowner maintenance projects. However, there are bigger and more time-consuming tasks related to seasonal change. During the colder months, you will have to rake leaves and clean your gutters of all debris. Failure to clean your gutters results in permanent water damage or damage to your roof. You want to be vigilant, as both will be costly and time-consuming fixes. A homeowner ensures their pool is closed, their sprinklers are shut off, and their doors and windows are properly insulated to ensure a comfortable temperature.

In spring, more projects will emerge. Homeowners should start by checking for any sort of winter weather damage. The sooner you discover any issues, the sooner they are resolved (and the less expensive the fix!). After this, you will want to clean your gutters again. Gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year to prevent any sort of build-up turning into permanent damage. Next, a homeowner can turn their sprinkler, pool, and outdoor water systems back on, as they can now function properly. Finally, homeowners should clean their yards of any excess leaves or debris and prepare to pick back up their yard maintenance schedule.

MAINTENANCE FOR OLDER HOMES

Hampton Roads offers a variety of unique places to live. Suffolk and Chesapeake may be perfect if you are interested in buying a large home with land. If you are looking for a historical, urban condominium, then you may look in Downtown Norfolk’s Freemason District or Portsmouth’s Olde Towne.  Virginia Beach’s North End and Norfolk’s East Beach offer a summer cottage feel with views of the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. There is something for everyone in Tidewater, from quaint farmhouses to urban condos and apartments. This diversity of experience brings a variety of maintenance challenges.

For example, a home in Norfolk’s Freemason or Portsmouth’s Olde Towne may date back to the 18th or 19th century. With this history comes some tough maintenance projects. You must be vigilant with old homes in testing for hazardous threats like asbestos, carbon monoxide, mold, mildew, and lead paint. Old homes often have structural decay, plumbing issues, and heating and cooling the home. While these maintenance efforts can be well worth it to live in a magnificent old home, it is important to understand the commitment you are making as a homeowner.

Another one of the unique challenges faced by homeowners in Tidewater is the possible proximity to saltwater, which can be carried by wind as mist to your home. This can result in the increased buildup of moisture on the roof and exterior of your home. Elevated moisture can cause severe damage to both if not maintained properly. Quarterly power washing is the easiest way to deal with this challenge. It is likely you will have to repaint your home more frequently as well. Like historical homes, it is well worth it for a beautiful view, but you must have an understanding that it will require consistent maintenance.

HOMEOWNER MAINTENANCE IN VIRGINIA: WORTH THE COSTS

There is much more to be said about home maintenance, especially in Hampton Roads, but we hope that we have given you a good understanding of the basics. Maintenance on your home is well worth it when you consider all the joy and memories it brings to many. Please reach out to the team at ProActive Real Estate Services if you are interested in finding the right home for you. We have decades of experience in Hampton Roads and can help you find your perfect home here. Call our sales team today at (757) 652-1225!