Are You Making These Expensive Home Mistakes?

Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you’re going to make in your life. Aside from your mortgage, you also have the added expenses of upkeep and unforeseen expenses that seem to pop up at the most inconvenient times (Friday at 5pm on a holiday weekend, for example.) Keeping home finances in check is a smart way to ensure that you’re not overspending, but overlooking common maintenance mistakes could cost you even more in the long run.

Read on to discover mistakes that might be costing you money.

You’re not customizing your temperature. Heating or cooling your home when you’re not in it is a waste of resources. Invest in a programmable or smart thermostat so that you can adjust the temperature in your absence.

You’re still using traditional light bulbs. Incandescent bulbs burn out almost immediately and use way more electricity than a CFL or an LED bulb. They last longer and use a third (or better) of the electricity.

You’re not adjusting your air vents. The temperature in your bedroom is hot, so you turn up the air conditioning instead of adjusting your vents to maximize airflow. Better yet, call a professional to do an assessment of your home’s HVAC and have them adjust the vents to regulate the temperature throughout your home.

Your doors and windows aren’t sealed properly. In the wintertime, cold air pierces through. In the summer, all of that sweet air conditioning is seeping through the seams and into the humid summer air. Caulk your windows and doors so that no inside air can get out vice versa.

You ignore your roof. If you only think about your roof once it starts leaking, then you’ve waited far too late. Curled and missing shingles may be a sign of an impending roof repair or replacement. Call a professional for an assessment and make improvements immediately.

Source: RISMedia.com, Top 10 Most Expensive Mistakes You’re Making on Your Home