Five essential things to maintain your home and protect your finances.

The new year brings a lot of attention to our physical health, but what about homes? They need care and attention, too! Here are five things that homeowners may overlook but will help maintain your home and protect your finances.

Stay on top of small repairs

Things like a drafty window or dripping faucet are pretty minor and easy to get used to. However, complacency will cost you higher utility bills.

Doing the repairs yourself will save big bucks. If you’re unsure what to do, YouTube is filled with home repair tutorials; watch a few and see how it’s done.

If you prefer not to DIY, hire someone to make small repairs before they turn into bigger problems. Create a list and have your handyman or woman do multiple repairs in a single visit to cut down on the expense of service calls.

Look for energy savings

Save energy and make your home more comfortable by installing a programmable thermostat, adding insulation and caulking around windows. If you haven’t switched over to energy-efficient bulbs, check out our guide for choosing the right LED lights.

Shop around for insurance

It’s easy to renew a homeowners insurance policy by simply paying the premium. It’s also easy to overpay. Take time to review your policy to make sure your coverage needs haven’t changed and that you aren’t paying too much.

Create an inventory

Put this resolution in the category of “not exciting to do, but you’re really glad you have it if you ever need it.” A household inventory that documents everything in your home will help you immensely if you ever have to make an insurance claim because of disaster, fire or theft.

Take videos and notes. Work room by room to record your items visually and write down models and serial numbers. Update the list when you make new purchases. Also, keep a copy of your inventory someplace safe that’s not your home, like at a trusted family member’s home or in cloud storage.

Start your emergency fund

The thing about emergencies is that they come up when we least expect them. Having a savings set aside for sudden appliance replacements or paying an insurance deductible can ease the stress of unplanned expenses. Here’s how to build up your emergency fund without feeling deprived.

Consumers helps more than 1,000 members finance land, first and second homes, and home improvement projects each year. When you need a mortgage or home equity line of credit, call us at 800-991-2221. We’re here to help you get the home of your dreams!