10 Rules Of Owning A House

Owning and maintaining a home is a tremendous joy but also a big responsibility. Here are my 10 rules that home owners should live by:

1. Take care of your home as often as possible

Experts recommend budgeting 1 to 3% of your home's value for maintenance and repairs each year.

2. Build equity

Making an extra principal payment when possible can decrease the interest you pay over the life of your loan.

3. Make a good first impression

Keep your front entrance clear and welcoming. Curb appeal improves the neighborhood and enhances your home's value.

4. Be properly insured

In most cases you only need to insure the replacement value of your home and personal property, not the land.

5. Love the neighborhood--not just the house

If you're happy with your current neighborhood, touch base with your neighbours about improvements to the street or areas around it.

6. Make the right improvements

Statistics show updated kitchens and baths often make a difference in a sale.

7. Safety first

Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure the security of your family.

8. Save on energy costs

Improvements in the insulation of windows, doors, and storm doors can save energy costs and increase your home's resale value.

9. Go neutral. It never fails.

Choose light, neutral colours, especially for tile or cupboards and anything else that can be a lot of money or effort to change.

10. Know if it's time to move

Over time people often outgrow a house or neighborhood. If you follow these simple rules of home ownership, then when it's time to move on you can reap the benefits of good resale value and less work to be ready for the sale.

By: DonEdmunds

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I am a Full-Time Realtor living in the Durham Region and servicing Oshawa,Whitby, Courtice, Bowmanville, Brooklin and Newcastle. I am also a married Father of 2 boys and a dog (like a 3rd kid!). With my vast knowledge from my time in the construction industry, I can help in identifying problems or potential problems with the integrity of a home. Don Edmunds Oshawa Realtor with Re/Max Jazz Inc., Brokerage Tel: 905-706-8137 Email: dedmunds@trebnet.com www.DurhamRegionHomesForSale.ca