Maintenance is a labour of love for many homeowners – traipsing around the local hardware store and eating snags is a weekend ritual for thousands of homeowners.
Others, of course, would prefer to do something else, somewhere else.
If you’re an owner who sees maintenance as a chore rather than an opportunity to test your DIY skills, we’ve put together a quick list of tips to minimise the work.
Firstly, it’s important to assess the commitment and obligations of ownership before making a purchase.
Two excellent approaches for those who try to avoid the toolbox are purchasing a new home that won’t need much done, or an apartment where the strata committee does the heavy lifting.
Below, we’ve listed five approaches to help you assess your maintenance commitment before purchasing a detached house and how to reduce the impact on your time.
Call in a professional
Before purchasing any home, you must organise a building inspection. Your lender will insist on it. However, you should ask for an assessment that will cover not only the integrity of the building but also upgrades (with cost estimates) that may be required in the medium to long term.
Line in the sand
As all properties require maintenance, be clear on how much time you’re prepared to give to the upkeep of your next home. Rule out anything that will cross your line, or you’ll quickly feel you’ve purchased a burden.
Bust out a budget
An excellent way to control the time spent on the home or garden is to make a budget. Restricting your spending will help to regulate your commitment.
Stay in your lane
Even DIY enthusiasts can overextend themselves. Be clear on the type of work you’re prepared to carry out and when you’re going to call in a tradie. Poorly-executed renovations can reduce the value of your home when the time comes to sell.
No-go tasks
There are specific jobs some owners are not interested in doing, or refuse to risk taking on. For example, they’ll hire a gardening service and rule out anything that involves a ladder. So long as you can afford help, your property should stay in tip-top condition.