Friday 20 February 2009

Home and Building Restoration - An Efficient Means to Preserve Your Investment

Money is getting harder and harder to come by these days and people should avoid unnecessary waste of funds. Losing value of one's property, be it a house, a condominium or a building because of neglect is one of the most common ways people lose out on their investments. Regular maintenance will decrease serious problems and structural damage to a house or building over the course of time.


Aside from increasing the value of your investment, regular maintenance and renovation to old real estate will add to your enjoyment of your dwelling. If you're using your property to generate income by renting it out, home and building maintenance done regularly will give you the privilege to keep your rates high.


The maintenance schedules for the different aspects of your property vary from monthly to every 6 months. Plumbing in your bathrooms and kitchens should be checked for problems every month as water damage can easily arise from leaks and clogs. The ovens, heating system and smoke detectors should be checked for proper operation every month also to avoid accidents and disasters due to equipment failure.


Every 3 to 4 months, the lawn or garden area should be rid of dead branches and other debris that can attract termites and other insects that can cause infrastructure damage. Making sure foliage and landscaping is in good appearance can also do a lot in preserving the value of your property. Intake filters for airconditioning units should also be checked for dirt and debris every 3 months to avoid overload and high energy consumption. The same thing goes with the refrigerator's condensers. The attic area should be checked quarterly as well. Drafts or holes in the wall can lead to bigger electric bills or further damage to walls and ceilings.


The roof which is the part of your property that protects you and your prized possessions from the elements should be maintained twice a year. Missing shingles or leaks should be taken care of right away. Drainage for rainwater should be free-flowing and devoid of drips or clogs. Blocked gutters and downspouts in roofs will eventually lead to water going into the structure and this is always a bad thing. Walls should be checked every six months as well for deterioration of cement, wood rot or paint peeling. This goes the same for the basement area. Dampness and termites can cause a great deal of damage undetected in dark, hard to access places if left unchecked.


Remodeling one's home is also a good way of adding value to real estate. It can also solve any issues with boredom or dullness when you've gotten tired of the appearance or ambience of your abode. Remodeling can be anything from repainting some rooms to change the mood or setting, to a complete structural renovation that requires a change in the layout of the house or building's floor plan.


When the job is as big and complicated as the latter, hiring the services of a contractor would be the best thing to do. Remodeling, if you lack experience and the technical know-how can be stressful and time-consuming. A good contractor can actually save you money and avoid cost overruns by giving you a clear picture of how big your budget should be, based on what you want to change in your property. They can also do the job faster by choosing the right materials for the job and take care of the necessary paperwork (some construction projects actually need permits), giving you time to go about your life- go to work and earn money or take a vacation while work is going on.


Maintaining a home checking for leaks and doing light troubleshooting can be done without the help of a contractor. Most light painting and leaky plumbing can be done with the help of a good DIY manual and the proper tools. Building maintenance however, unless you have the manpower for it is a totally different story. Major renovation and regular building maintenance necessitates the need to hire professional help.


Jo is an author and publisher for 'EBL Group Limited' (http://www.eblgroup.co.uk), a family controlled, award winning and skilled home and commercial builders stationed in Runcorn Cheshire. If you are searching for builders runcorn who are professionals in overall construction, maintenance and property improvement or have home and industrial upgrading and repairs requirement then you ought to take a look at EBL Group.


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