Home Advice

While there’s no end to the upgrades and improvements you could make around your home, not all of them will have a noticeable effect on your home’s market value. With a little planning, though, you can find home improvement projects that will give you more enjoyment from your living space and a higher price when you decide to sell.

Catch Up on Basic Maintenance

Over just a few years, a house can accumulate a lot of minor repair issues that, if not addressed, add up to a worn-down, neglected look that makes potential buyers wonder what else is wrong. When you’re ready to make improvements, start by taking care of minor repairs you might have been overlooking.

Check for issues such as damaged walls and floors, dripping faucets, roof leaks, loose doorknobs, broken locks, broken light switches, and chimney cracks and corrosion. This goes even if the repairs are largely cosmetic. If you haven’t had your plumbing and wiring professionally inspected within the last year, it’s worth having it done now.

When everything’s in working order and looking good, it gives the impression that the home has been well maintained.

Re-do the Front Door

As one of the first things a potential buyer sees when walking up to the house, a beautiful front door can do a lot to create a good first impression. A solid wood or steel door gives your home a look of luxury, durability, and security.

If you have a wooden door you’d rather not replace, at least give it a fresh coat of paint or stain in a color that suits the building’s color scheme.

Expand Your Storage Space

If you never seem to have enough space to keep all your stuff organized, adding storage space could make your home a lot more attractive to a would-be buyer. Even adding some stylish knobs and hooks to the walls can help.

Wall-mounted shelves and caddies also give you room for storage without taking up floor space. Setting up wire shelving or a laminate closet system in the bedroom and entryway closets is a good next step. Then look for narrow walls and unused other spots where you could install built-in shelves.

Spruce up the Flooring

Flooring might not be something you pay much attention to consciously, but it has a major effect on the overall look of a room. For a relatively new carpet that’s still in good repair, invest in professional cleaning to spruce things up. If your flooring has a few worn spots, covering those with strategically placed area rugs provides a quick fix.

Hardwood flooring is gaining popularity and can add even more value to your home than carpet. If hardwood flooring isn’t in your budget, consider engineered wood flooring. While it doesn’t wear as well as hardwood, it’s less expensive and offers the same classic look.

Modernize Your Appliances

After 10 years, most appliances are nearing the end of their lifespans, and they’re less efficient than recently manufactured models. By replacing your old appliances with new, energy-efficient models, you’ll reassure would-be buyers that they won’t get stuck with high energy bills or a furnace that suddenly dies.

Smart devices, such as a programmable thermostat and Wifi-enabled lighting, are also good investments because they add to the impression that the home is high tech and high value.

Upgrade Your Kitchen

If you’re considering a major home improvement project, renovating the kitchen is one of the best investments you can make. The kitchen is considered the heart of the home for good reason. It’s often the first place potential buyers head for and the room where they stay the longest as they ask questions to learn more about the house and neighborhood.

At the very least, make sure your kitchen looks up to date with fresh paint, modern tiles, and new fixtures. Raised panel cabinets are an especially cost-effective upgrade, but you don’t have to replace all your cabinetry to get them. Instead, hire a contractor who can reface the cabinets, replacing just the fronts.

Don’t get too carried away, though. Pricey luxury features such as a granite countertop or a wood-fired pizza oven are unlikely to give you a return on your investment.

Makeover the Bathroom

A smart-looking, modern bathroom is next in line for home improvements that will increase your home’s value. Here again, a facelift will give you a better return on your investment than a complete overhaul. Installing a new sink faucet, shower head, and toilet seat go a long way toward freshening up an out-of-date bathroom. You can also brighten a dingy shower by just by replacing damaged tile and re-grouting.

Putting in a pedestal sink will give your bathroom a modern look for relatively little cost. If the floor’s a little shabby, vinyl tiles give you an easy, affordable way to get the appearance of new natural wood or stone floors.

Build a Deck

Comfortable outdoor living space adds versatility, beauty, and value to your home. This is especially true if you live in a region with plenty of warm weather. The deck you add should be big enough to comfortably seat several people and accommodate outdoor furniture and equipment such as a barbecue.

Redwood and cedar are good choices for quality, but exotic hardwoods are unlikely to recoup your investment. Features such as built-in seating and storage or an eye-catching railing add even more value.

Before you start work, check with your city or county authorities to find out if you’ll need a building permit.

Transform Your Attic

A finished attic adds valuable, versatile living space to your home that, unlike a deck, can be enjoyed all year. An attic room can be turned into a spare bedroom, kid’s playroom, library, game room or home office. It also provides extra storage space with controlled temperatures and humidity levels.

In addition, a heated and cooled attic helps maintain more regular temperatures in the lower rooms, making the house more comfortable overall. In some areas, converting an attic into living space requires a permit, so check with your local authorities.

Add Insulation for Improved Energy Efficiency

Adding insulation is one of the simplest and cheapest home improvements you can make to improve your comfort level. Sufficient insulation helps regulate indoor temperatures, which keeps your heating and cooling bills under control. A home inspector working with someone looking to buy your house will note this their report.

When you’re ready to add insulation, start with the attic. The right amount of insulation here benefits the whole house and laying batt insulation in the attic is a fairly simple DIY job.

Home improvements should first and foremost help you get more enjoyment out of your home while you’re living in it, but a few of them also add value in the eyes of prospective buyers when you’re ready to move. A project that can do both is the perfect place to start when you’re in the mood to make some changes.

Building your dream home is never a simple or cheap endeavor. Most land owners pay a large amount of money to have a general contractor come in and build the house for them. However, there is an alternative which gives you more control at a lower cost. This alternative is known as an owner-builder construction loan and may or may not be the key to creating your dream home.

What is an Owner-Builder?

An owner-builder is a land owner who acts as their own general contractor when building a house. This requires the owner to handle several tasks and may be too difficult for someone who lacks experience in handling large projects. Loan companies will often require some background in construction or the hiring of someone with that knowledge. If you have the skills necessary, being an owner-builder is a more cost-effective, albeit more involved, way to manage the project.

What Does an Owner-Builder Do?

There are numerous tasks which an owner-builder is responsible for. At the most basic level, you will be responsible for creating your own construction budget, hiring sub-contractors, and overseeing the construction process. On a deeper level, there are numerous smaller duties and considerations, including:

• Obtaining all building permits required
• Purchasing all necessary materials
• Scheduling contractors to avoid delays
• Sorting out potential conflicts of interest when two contractors are working in the same space
• Disbursing funds

Being an owner-builder does not require you to perform any of the construction yourself, although you have the option of picking up a hammer to save even more. As you are responsible for obtaining the construction materials, you also have the ability to better control the types and quality of materials being used.

What Skills Are Necessary?

There are three important skills you should have if you wish to be an owner-builder. The first and foremost is budgeting skills. Without a good budget, you will be unable to provide the materials and payments required to get the job done.

Second to budgeting is experience in construction. Not only will you need this experience when overseeing the contractors and for scheduling the work, but most lenders will not grant funds if you cannot prove construction experience. One way around this is to hire either an on-site project manager or construction management firm.

The final skill necessary is leadership. You will be coordinating a combined workforce on a complicated project. You may have to settle the occasional dispute when two subcontractors are trying to work in the same space. At other times, you will need to relay information from one subcontractor to another and make important decisions on short notice when something goes wrong.

Delegating Responsibility

One of the biggest benefits to having an owner-builder loan is the ability to oversee the project yourself. Unfortunately, obtaining the loan often requires someone with a certification in construction to be involved in the project. Thankfully, there are two cheaper alternatives to hiring a general contractor, both with their own benefits and drawbacks.

On-Site Project Managers

When acting as an owner-builder, you’re filling the role of general contractor. On-site project managers take a large portion of this responsibility off of your shoulders by managing your project during the day. The downside is that project manager fees may reduce the amount of equity you earn.

Construction Management Companies

Hiring a construction management firm is by far the cheapest option. Unfortunately, these firms will also perform the least amount of work. This is a good option for when you plan to oversee the project yourself but require the assistance of someone with a certification in construction to obtain your loan.

Benefits of Owner-Builder Loans

There are several benefits to having an owner-builder loan which can make life a little easier during and after construction. The following tend to be the primary reasons people consider getting a loan of this type:

Instant Equity

By building your own home, you can create instant equity. This gives you the ability to refinance, take out a second mortgage, or even sell the home once it’s built. The same amount of equity can take years to build up normally, making the loan an investment with quick returns.

Save Money Both Now and Later

Owner-builder loans can save anywhere up to 40 percent of your construction costs, depending upon whether you do everything yourself, hire help, or enlist project management. General contractors alone may charge as much as 20 percent for their services, so the more you do, the more money you save.

This money also translates to a smaller mortgage with smaller monthly payments. If you choose to put some of the money you saved back into the mortgage, you can drastically reduce the amount of interest you will be paying off years down the road.

Control Equals Satisfaction

Being an owner-builder means you have full control over the project, from materials to coordinating builders. You even have the option of building the entire home yourself, if you have the know-how. This means things are done to your specifications, and you have the satisfaction of knowing that you had a hand in every step of the construction. This can make your dream home even more special.

The Drawbacks of Owner-Builder Loans

As with any type of financial decision, owner-builder loans aren’t without their drawbacks. In most cases, you may find these issues are worth the hassle, but they may prove too difficult if you are starting from scratch.

Difficult to Obtain

With the current economy, these loans are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Lenders who offer these loans consider them to be high-risk and often require a certification in construction before they will consider the loan. You can fulfill this step by hiring a project manager or construction management firm, although that will also cut into the project’s budget.

Higher Fees and Multiple Closings

Due to the added risk of construction loans, lenders generally charge a higher fee for them. Owner-builder loans are no exception, so be prepared for the cost. In many cases, the lender will further protect their investment by requiring two closings: one before you break ground, and the other when construction is complete. If you change to a traditional loan at some point, you may have to pay additional closing costs.

How to Obtain an Owner-Builder Construction Loan

Owner-builder construction loans are often very difficult to obtain due to factors such as risk and the economy. These factors are not impossible to overcome, although they may require some shopping around to find a good lender. Construction lender directories allow you to get quotes from multiple local lenders at once. Consulting with an experienced builder and researching the process of constructing a home from scratch are vital steps which should be performed before even attempting to get a loan.

Creating a Business Plan

Building a house is a complex task, and lenders will want assurance you know what you’re doing. You should have a full business plan prepared which gives a projected timeline for the construction, as well as provisions for any possible delays. All expenses should also be covered, especially:

• Building permits
• Material costs
• Labor fees

Qualifying for the Loan

Lenders who offer owner-builder loans will be examining your financial background extensively to ensure they will be reimbursed. The information reviewed includes:

• Income
• Credit score
• Cash reserves
• Debt-to-income ratio

In addition, lenders will generally want a down payment valued at up to 30 percent of the loan amount, and may allow for land equity. Your business plan is extra assurance that you are aware of what you are doing. Finally, the lender may require that someone with a certification in construction be involved in the project before approving the loan.

Post-Approval Steps

Once you have been approved, you will need to gather your workforce. Make sure that all sub-contractors offer a guarantee and have a good reputation. Check the local building authorities for any complaints and also ask to see their previous projects. The more references and background you have for a sub-contractor, the smaller the chance you will run into quality or efficiency issues.

If you are not living on-site or are involved in the building aspect of the project, you should visit the site at least once per week to check progress and meet with your sub-contractors. The more involved you are, the less likely you will run into delays. As this is an investment, your presence will not only save money, but will help ensure the final project is everything you wanted it to be.

Part of the joy of owning a home is the freedom you have to modify it to suit your family’s needs and preferences. In fact, it’s these improvements and upgrades that make your home truly your own.

If you don’t have much DIY experience, though, the thought of altering anything around the house can be a little intimidating. By starting with simple projects, you can build your confidence while also making your home a more comfortable, enjoyable place to live.

Freshen up the walls – Adding a fresh coat of paint and hanging new wallpaper are among the most popular home improvement projects for a good reason. They’re jobs nearly anyone can do and they cost relatively little, yet if done right, they make a dramatic difference in a room’s overall character.

Before you choose your paint or wallpaper, have a color scheme in mind for the room. Have a wall with an interesting feature such as a built-in bookcase? Use it to add personality to your room by turning it into an accent wall painted in a color that stands out from the other walls.

• hgtv.com/design/decorating/color/10-tips-for-picking-paint-colors
• diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/painting/how-to-paint-a-room
• homedit.com/accent-wall-ideas/

Rejuvenate the flooring – At a certain point, flooring can become so dirty and damaged that replacing it seems like way to improve it. If you’re tired of your ugly old floor, but completely replacing it isn’t an option right now, self-adhesive (peel-and-stick) vinyl flooring gives you a simple, budget-friendly, and beautiful alternative. These tiles are a breeze to install and come in so many varieties you’ll be able to get the exact look you want.

• thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-lay-vinyl-tile-floor
• frugalfamilytimes.com/2012/07/how-to-install-peel-and-stick-vinyl.html
• younghouselove.com/2009/04/its-a-stick-up-er-down

Update your kitchen lighting – Lighting has a major impact on how you feel in a room and because the kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house, the lighting here is especially important. The simplest way to improve your kitchen lighting is to replace the existing fixtures with more modern designs or ones that better fit your decor.

If you’re up for a more involved project, consider adding under cabinet lighting above your counters. Better lighting here makes food preparation easier and reduces the risk of accidents. Want to give your dining area the atmosphere of an upscale restaurant? Add dimmer switches so you can lower the lights for a more sophisticated ambiance.

• bhg.com/kitchen/lighting/best-kitchen-lighting
• diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/electrical-and-wiring/8-budget-kitchen-lighting-ideas
• thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-install-undercabinet-lighting

Install new plumbing fixtures – Plumbing fixtures with scratches, dulled finishes or other wear can make your kitchen and bath look dated and even unsanitary. Swapping out your old fixtures for new ones gives these rooms an instant update. Choose water-efficient models and you’ll enjoy lower water bills, too.

• hgtv.com/remodel/bathroom-remodel/choosing-bathroom-fixtures
• freshome.com/2011/01/02/how-to-choose-plumbing-fixtures-to-match-your-decor-style/
• diynetwork.com/how-to/rooms-and-spaces/bathroom/how-to-replace-a-bathroom-faucet

Create a laundry center – Enjoy hassle-free laundry days by improving the organization and lighting in the area where you wash your clothes. Install a counter that gives you plenty of space for sorting and folding clothes. Put up shelving to keep your detergents and other products in order. Add bright fluorescent lighting to help you spot stains. As a finishing touch, lay rubber floor tile for greater comfort, reduced noise, and easier cleanup.

• bhg.com/rooms/laundry-room/makeovers/hidden-laundry-rooms
• decoratingfiles.com/2012/10/laundry-room-ideas/
• bobvila.com/articles/planning-guide-laundry-room-ideas

Install crown molding – Crown molding gives a room a more finished, elegant, and traditional look. Although traditionally installed where the ceiling meets wall, it can also be applied to walls and ceilings for decorative effect.

For the greatest visual impact, choose molding in a color that sets off the color of the walls. Using the same color as the ceiling can make the ceiling feel heavy, while a contrasting color creates a sense of lightness and energy. Pay attention to which style and size best suits your room. Large, ornate molding is fine for spacious rooms, but for small ones, choose simple, slim molding.

• diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/carpentry-and-woodworking/how-to-install-crown-molding
• hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/how-to-install-crown-molding
• familyhandyman.com/carpentry/trim-carpentry/how-to-install-crown-molding-three-piece-design/view-all

Change up your cabinetry hardware – With a little looking, you can find knobs and handles that suit your decor much better than the ones the factory installed on your drawers and cabinets. Changing them is a simple, low-cost job that adds polish to your rooms. There are a lot of choices available, so take the time to find styles that truly match the feel of the room, whether that’s sleek stainless steel, ornate brass or a less common material such as glass or stone.

• hgtv.com/design/rooms/kitchens/kitchen-cabinet-knobs-pulls-and-handles-pictures
• diynetwork.com/how-to/rooms-and-spaces/kitchen/choosing-kitchen-cabinet-knobs-pulls-and-handles-pictures
• bhg.com/blogs/centsational-style/2012/09/02/choosing-kitchen-cabinet-hardware/

Expand your storage space – Ample storage space helps reduce clutter, making your home a more comfortable and convenient place to live. With so many DIY kits on the market that come ready for assembly, you don’t need carpentry skills to add shelves, bookcases or cabinets to your home. Spots to consider for extra storage space include under beds, under the stairs, and in knee walls. If you’re not interested in building something, even a simple wall rack for coats in the entryway or pots in the kitchen can help. Also look for places where storage furniture, such as benches and chests, could come in handy.

• realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/storage-ideas
• housebeautiful.com/home-remodeling/diy-projects/how-to/g2037/diy-storage-solutions/
• myhomeideas.com/decorating/built-in-storage

Spruce up your front door – As one of the first things you see when you come home, your front door has a major impact on how welcoming your home feels. A handsome solid wood door gives your home a classic, stately appearance, while a door with large decorative windows adds a touch of casual charm.

If your existing door is warped or otherwise damaged, replacing it will improve your home’s appearance and security, while also reducing uncomfortable drafts. If you have a wood door that’s in good condition, but looking aged, a coat of paint or stain will rejuvenate it, and by extension, liven up the exterior of your whole house.

• thisoldhouse.com/ideas/how-to-pick-front-door
• bobvila.com/articles/front-door-ideas/
• housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/colors/g558/front-door-color/

Boost your attic insulation – Adding insulation to your attic is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency and your comfort level.

Because warm air rises, much of the warmth your home loses in winter leaves through the roof. In summer, the sun beating down on your roof heats up your whole house. Good attic insulation mitigates both these situations. It also prevents ice dams and icicles on the roof, protecting your roof from the damage these can cause.

If you use batt insulation, all you’ll need to do is lay the insulation in place. First, check how much insulation your attic has and how much is recommended for your climate. Then lay enough new insulation to make up the difference.

• energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=diy.diy_attic_insulation
• thisoldhouse.com/ideas/adding-attic-insulation
• motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/guide-to-proper-attic-insulation-zmaz85sozgoe

If you’re just beginning to venture into DIY home improvement, start with small jobs such as painting an accent wall or updating your cabinetry hardware. Once you gain skill and confidence, you can move on to more complex jobs such as replacing plumbing fixtures.

Remember, too, that not all home improvement projects raise your property value an appreciable amount, so when you’re considering which projects to dive into first, go with the ones you and your family will get the most enjoyment from.

Traditionally, owning a home is seen as part of the American dream and a goal everyone should have. In part because it’s viewed as something so normal and universal, you might not think to question some of the beliefs you have about buying and owning a home. Instead of relying on your assumptions, take some time to investigate what home ownership is really like before you decide whether or not to buy.

The Home-Buying Process

Although buying your own home could be one of the most gratifying experiences of your life, it’s still an expensive and time-consuming process. The more you know going in, the better decisions you’ll make about how home ownership will fit into your life.

1. Buying is Always Better than Renting

Nearly every real estate agent will claim this is true, but in reality there are some situations in which renting makes more sense. Instead of assuming you’re “throwing money away” on rent, consider the other factors involved. This includes how long you want to live in that area, the cost of rent in the area, the mortgage rate you qualify for, on-going costs such as maintenance, property tax, and insurance, and how much houses in the area are expected to appreciate.

2. A House Is Always a Profitable Long-Term Investment

While most real estate appreciates, it typically does so at a very low rate that works out to around 1 percent per year when adjusted for inflation. If you’re looking to grow your money, you’d be better of investing in stocks and bonds or even buying Treasury bills. The primary benefit you get out of owning a house is the intangible pleasure of living in it. The financial benefits are minimal.

3. You Can’t Buy If You Can’t Come up with a 20 Percent Down Payment

A house is one of the biggest purchases of most people’s lives, so the costs involved can seem overwhelming. It’s easy to assume there’s no way you could find the money. Not everyone needs to pay 20 percent down, though. If you have good credit and meet a number of other requirements, your lender might ask for only 5 or 10 percent down. Although you’ll usually need to buy mortgage insurance when paying less than 20 percent down, a lower down payment can still be the extra support you need to get into your own home.

4. You Can’t Get a Mortgage with Less Than Stellar Credit

The days when nearly anyone could get a mortgage are gone, but that doesn’t mean you need perfect credit to be approved. Although credit requirements have risen, it’s still possible to get a mortgage even if you have a few blemishes on your credit record. The plus side of this is that you’re less likely to end up with an unmanageable mortgage payment and won’t find yourself with more home than you can comfortably afford.

Caring for Your Home

For as much joy and satisfaction as there is in owning your home, there’s also a lot of responsibility. Having a realistic sense of what caring for a home entails will help you better prepare.

5. All Renovations are Profitable

When you plan to live in a home for years, it’s only natural you’ll want to do some remodeling and make renovations and upgrades to ensure your surroundings fit your lifestyle and personal tastes. Renovations like these improve your quality of life, but they don’t necessarily increase your property value. In fact, you might not even recoup the costs when you sell your home. Minor improvements such as repainting or replacing damaged countertops with cost-effective material will help the house sell faster, but not always for more.

If you decide to renovate with the goal of financial profit, focus on features that are known to increase property value, such as flooring, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, and kitchen cabinets.

6. It’s Worth Learning to Maintain Everything Yourself

When you first move in, doing everything around the house yourself can feel like a way to enjoy your new purchase. After a while, though, you might realize it’s just not worth your time to do routine maintenance tasks such as mowing the lawn, cleaning the gutters or resealing the driveway yourself. In many cases, it’s smarter to hire someone who has the skills and tools to get the job done better and faster than you could. This lets you spend your time more effectively elsewhere.

What’s more, some systems in your home, such as your heating and cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems, require professional maintenance in order to continue operating reliably, safely, and efficiently. The same goes for certain appliances, such as your water heater and clothes drier. While you should maintain these systems to the extent that you can, skipping professional maintenance can lead to expensive problems and put your safety at risk.

7. It’s Important to Plan for All Home-Related Expenses

Homeowners insurance and an emergency cash fund are important parts of responsible home ownership and will help you cover most of your unexpected costs. Beyond this, though, there’s no way to be absolutely certain you can cover every cost involved in owning a home. It’s impossible to list everything that could go wrong or think of every upgrade you might want to make. So don’t assume you’re not ready to own just because you haven’t calculated all your future costs yet.

8. You Can Make Every Room Look Exactly as You Want

While owning your home gives you complete freedom of expression as far as design and decor go, you’ll also need to consider your budget. Those perfectly styled rooms you see in interior design magazines might cost more to create than you realize, especially when you add up the costs for every room.

What’s more, finding the exact paint, carpeting, furniture, curtains, and other decor elements you want will take some time. Instead of stressing yourself out trying to get everything perfect, look for budget-friendly, DIY ways to get a look you’re content with for now and learn to take pleasure in what you have.

Buying a house is a major investment of money, time, and energy, so if you’re thinking about becoming a homeowner, take the time to learn as much as you can about both the home-buying process and the realities of owning a house.

When you take pride in the appearance of your home and the quality of its construction, it’s understandable you want to have as much as possible under your own control. Even so, there are certain home projects that are better left to a professional. It isn’t always a question of your ability, either.

If you only have evenings and weekends to work on the project, you could end up with a mess in the house for longer than your family is comfortable with. If anything goes wrong, a professional will most likely charge more to redo the work.

Safety is an even greater concern. Some jobs might seem fairly straightforward, yet still carry the risk of serious injury or even death. In certain cases, faulty repairs put the lives of your entire household at risk.

To keep your costs down and protect your family, here are 10 projects to leave to the pros if you’re a beginner DIYer.

Electrical Wiring

It may seem obvious that electricity is something an untrained do-it-yourselfer should leave well alone, but when the job seems simple, it’s tempting to try to handle it yourself. For your own safety, resist that temptation and call an electrician for anything more involved than replacing a blown fuse.

This includes dealing with a dead outlet, a frequently tripping breaker or a switch that’s stopped working. Appliances or equipment that needs to be wired in, such as a generator, should also be taken care of by a professional. More complex projects, such as wiring a home addition, typically require a permit and inspection. Ignore these steps and you could end up with a fine.

Errors in any of these jobs can cause a fire or even change the polarity of the wires and cut power to your whole house. Electrocution is also a very real risk.

Gas Appliance Repair

One day you might notice your gas stove, water heater or clothes dryer isn’t working the way it should or has stopped working altogether. Instead of tinkering with it yourself, don’t use the appliance until you can have a professional check it out.

Malfunctioning gas appliances put you at high risk for natural gas or carbon monoxide (CO2) poisoning. Although you can smell a gas leak when you’re awake, you may not notice it when you’re asleep. Carbon monoxide has no odor, so you won’t know it’s there until you experience symptoms such as a headache and dizziness. In both cases, if the leak happens while you’re asleep, you can fall unconscious and die without ever waking.

As if that weren’t bad enough, a malfunctioning gas appliance can potentially cause a fire or explosion.

Plumbing

Unlike electricity or gas, water from a leak is unlikely to seriously harm you. That fact makes plumbing seem deceptively simple, but in reality a lot can go wrong if you don’t handle it correctly. While you can loosen minor clogs and even replace faucets own your own, leave the rest to a pro.

Breaking or accidentally loosing a pipe can result in flooding that destroys your floor and furniture. If not removed, the lingering moisture can cause rot and mold. Incorrectly installing a pipe or fixture, such as a toilet, can cause leaks that aren’t immediately noticeable. Over time, these leaks cause rot behind your walls and damage the wood structure of your home.

HVAC Ductwork

Your forced-air heating and cooling system relies on ducts to efficiently carry warm or cool air to your rooms. Anything that goes wrong with these ducts leaves you less comfortable and impairs your heating and cooling system. Patching a small hole in a duct is something you can handle yourself, but anything more requires a professional.

Using the wrong type of duct reduces your system’s energy efficiency. Undersizing the ducts restricts airflow, placing damaging strain on your system’s components and causing annoying noise. Incorrect installation or repairs not only cut the system’s efficiency, but also worsen your indoor air quality by allowing the ducts to draw in air contaminants from inside the attic and walls.

Structural Changes

A building’s wood structure acts as its skeleton, so any changes here affect the whole building. Changes must be carefully planned with consideration for how they’ll affect the roof, weight-bearing walls, plumbing, wiring, and other components of every room in the house.

If you’re considering knocking out a wall, adding a balcony, building a new room or any other project that involves the building’s structure, at least consult with a professional first. Windows, for example, look easy enough to install, but incorrectly installation can cause drafts and leaks, so hiring an expert is worth it.

For major remodeling projects, working with a professional is a must. To start with, they can let you know what part of your project requires a permit and what’s required for the job to pass inspection.

Roofing Repairs

On a single-story home, replacing a shingle and repairing a damaged gutter are both simple DIY jobs. If you have large sections of damaged roof, a hole or a leak, however, call in a professional. Flawed roofing repairs can allow leaks to develop. Leaks encourage mold and rot. They dampen your insulation, making it less effective so your home doesn’t stay as comfortable and you end up with higher heating and cooling bills. Worse yet, water near your wiring or outlets can spark a fire.

On homes with multiple stories, even simple repairs carry the risk of potentially fatal falls. These repairs should be left to a professional with proper safety equipment.

Flooring

Laying new parquet or carpet seems like it would be a perfectly safe DIY project. While it’s true an imperfect flooring job probably won’t put you in the hospital or damage your whole house, laying flooring is more complex than meets the eye.

First of all, you can’t be sure what you’ll find when you tear out your existing flooring. There could be warped or otherwise damaged hardwood flooring under your carpeting. Under that is the subflooring, which might be cracked or rotting. Either of these issues will have to be handled before you can lay new flooring.

Beyond that, multiple steps are involved in the process of laying flooring and if any one of them is done incorrectly, the whole floor will have to be redone.

Laying Tile

Like installing flooring, laying tile in a bathroom, kitchen or elsewhere looks fairly simple, but there’s plenty of room for things to go wrong. The subfloor or wall must be properly prepared. You’ll need to choose the right type of mortar for the type of tile you have and apply it correctly. The tile must be laid straight.

If these steps aren’t performed correctly, the tile could fail to adhere, or crack or break. Grout, too, requires care so it doesn’t end up splotchy and discolored. A professional will be able to do the job flawlessly, so your tile looks good and lasts for years.

Major Landscaping

Laying a garden path, building raised flowerbeds or installing a pond are no problem for the average gardening enthusiast. Where it gets tricky is when you’re dealing with medium or large trees or shrubs. Trees and shrubs expected to grow for years and reach large sizes often have special planting requirements that must be met if the plant is to survive. Do the job wrong and your tree or shrub might never take root.

Removing trees is also a professional’s job. If not correctly controlled, a falling tree or tree limb can seriously injure someone or damage your house, car or nearby utility line. Stump removal carries the risk of damaging underground pipes and wires.

Swimming Pool Installation

Installing an inground pool is a complex job, there’s a lot that can go wrong, and mistakes can be costly. Choosing the wrong location can result in higher maintenance bills or even damage to the pool. In addition, many DIYers prioritize appearance only to end up with maintenance nightmares later. Finally, there are safety features that must be included for the pool to pass inspections.

The ability to handle minor home repairs is a great skill to have, but it’s just as important to know when to leave things to an experienced professional. Your project will get done faster, more safely, and with less mess and hassle.

With so many maintenance jobs that need to be done to keep your home in shape, it’s easy to overlook a few things. The consequences of neglecting certain jobs might not show up for a while, but eventually you could end up with costly damage to your home. To save yourself both trouble and expense, update your home maintenance checklist with these critical yet often forgotten jobs.

Change Your HVAC Filter

A dirty filter is among the most common causes of heating and cooling system breakdowns. A filter that’s clogged with dust and debris restricts the amount of air flowing into the system. That places strain on the fan motor and other components, leading to early wear and breakdowns. It also reduces the system’s energy efficiency by forcing the motor to work harder to move air, so your electricity bills will also rise.

Once a month, remove your filter and hold it up to a light source. If you can’t see light shining through the filter, it’s time to put in a new one. As a rule, standard 1-inch fiberglass filters should be replaced monthly during the heating and cooling seasons.

Drain the Water Heater Tank

Over time, sediment and minerals, such as calcium and lime, settle on the bottom of your water heater tank. These impair your water heater’s efficiency and contribute to corrosion, which can cause the tank to leak.

To flush out this damaging sludge, start by turning off the water heater and letting the tank cool for several hours. Then attach one end of a hose to the tank’s drain cock and take the other end outdoors. Open the drain cock and let the water drain from the tank. Finally, turn on the water flow again until the water coming from the hose runs clear. In most locations, it’s enough to flush the tank once a year. If you have unusually hard water, though, flush your tank every six months.

Remove Lint from Your Clothes Dryer

Cleaning your dryer lint screen after each load helps, but there’s more you need to do to keep your dryer running safely and efficiently. Just like the lint screen, the duct at the back of the dryer and the vent outside your house also collects dust.

This dust buildup blocks the outgoing flow of moist air, increasing drying times. It can also cause the dryer to overheat, so it poses a fire hazard. Clean the exterior vent by removing the cover and using a dryer vent lint brush. Then disconnect the sections of the dryer duct and brush out the inside of each section.

Clean Your Refrigerator Coils

For an appliance that sees daily use, the refrigerator is surprisingly likely to suffer neglect. The condenser coils on the back or bottom of the refrigerator collect dust, which acts like insulation and makes it harder for your refrigerator to expel warm air and cool its interior. This can cause the compressor to fail early.

To clean the coils, simply unplug the refrigerator and use your vacuum’s hose attachment to suck up the dust. Then use a soft paint brush to dislodge any remaining grime.

Clean Your Faucet Aerators

Do your faucets run slow or spit and spatter instead of providing a steady, smooth flow? If so, chances are your aerators are clogged with mineral deposits picked up from minerals naturally present in the water.

To clean the aerator, first remove it by wrapping it in a towel and using a pair of pliers to unscrew it from the faucet. Remove the washer and other parts inside the aerator. Scrub the outside with an old toothbrush to dislodge buildup. To remove more stubborn buildup, soak the aerator in white vinegar overnight, and then scrub it again.

Snake Your Sewer Line

The drain that directs all the sewage and wastewater out of your home to the sewer is known as the sewer line or main drain. This line can become clogged with things that shouldn’t have been washed down the pipes, such as cooking fat or baby wipes. Tree roots growing into the line can also cause clogs.

When this drain has a minor clog, you might hear the toilet gurgling when you run the bathroom sink tap and see water coming from the shower drain when you flush the toilet. A major clog will cause the toilet to back up and overflow, leaving you with a smelly mess.

For a clog-free sewer line, once a year, call a professional to clean the line by snaking or high-pressure water jetting, depending on which is appropriate for your pipes.

Inspect Your Roof and Gutters

Even small roof leaks can quickly cause serious damage to your home before you even notice. Leaks lead to mold and rot in your attic and, if left unchecked, can even rot the wood structure of your home. If water reaches your electrical wiring, the resulting electrical short can start a fire.

Before and after winter, and after storms, go up on your roof and check for damaged or missing shingles, damaged flashing, wear in the valleys, and debris buildup. Inspect your gutters, too. Damaged, loose or sagging gutters contribute to roof leaks and should be repaired.

Test Your Sump Pump

Heavy rains can blow in when you least expect them, so your basement sump pump has to be ready for them at all times. Once every four to six weeks, clean out any debris that’s fallen into the sump pump pit.

Every three or four months, test the pump for correct operation by slowly pouring a bucket of water into it. The pump should start up, drain the water, then shut off. If it doesn’t, check for a stuck float ball or jammed impeller. If neither of these are the issue, you might need to replace the float switch.

Inspect Your Foundation

The elements take their toll on your foundation and eventually cracks can develop. In the winter, water can seep into these cracks during the day, then freeze overnight, causing the crack to expand. Before and after every winter, walk around your home and inspect the foundation for damage.

If you find deteriorating mortar or sealant, repair the damage with appropriate material. If you spot a crack between 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide, you can seal it yourself with vinyl concrete patcher. For any crack wider than 1/4 inch, call in a structural or civil engineer to have the foundation inspected. Cracks this size potentially compromise the structural integrity and safety of your whole house.

Seal Off Cracks and Gaps

In the majority of homes, there are small cracks and gaps that provide an entryway for air pollutants, humidity, and pests such as mice and cockroaches. These cracks also reduce a home’s energy efficiency by letting out warm air in winter and letting in hot air in summer.

Once a year, inspect your home for these wasteful leaks and seal them with appropriate materials. Check the caulk and weatherstripping around your windows and doors and replace them if they’ve deteriorated. Inspect the caulk around penetrations for utility lines such as gas pipes and electrical wiring.

In addition to these more visible areas, your attic and basement also need some care. In the attic, make sure the access hatch, plumbing vent stack, and any dropped soffits are properly insulated and sealed. In the basement, check the sealing around the rim joist insulation.

Home maintenance isn’t necessarily difficult, but there are a lot of routine jobs to keep track of. When you have a clear idea of everything you need to do to keep a house in good repair, you can enjoy greater comfort and safety with few if any surprise repair issues.