You may take immaculate care of your home, but that doesn’t mean a little natural wear and tear is completely avoidable. Especially after your home turns 10 years old—or after you have been living in it for that long—there are certain household tasks that will probably take precedence in the order of things that need care. This type of regular maintenance is important to keeping up with your home as it ages—so you won’t be stuck sinking a ton of money into it all at once. Being aware of and implementing these updates your home needs every decade will keep you from having a home improvement headache.
Consider these seven updates your home needs every decade!
- Replacing the carpet. If there is carpet in your home, replacing it is likely among the updates your home needs every decade. The average carpet has a life of about 10 years before you need to consider new carpet, or a flooring alternative. This will depend on the number of people and pets in your household, how often you have it professionally cleaned, and other factors. Look for fraying, rips, stains and odors that do not go away even after the carpet is cleaned.
- Repainting inside and out. There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to give a room, or the exterior of your home, an updated look and feel. If you’re a frequent redecorator, or if one area of your home just really needs it, you may even repaint far more often than every 10 years. However, if you haven’t, keep in mind that paint colors fade over time. Repainting will also give you an excuse to clean your walls that you may have never touched (or that have been touched too much, for that matter).
- Getting a new dishwasher. As energy-efficiency for appliances improves, think about the fact that the dishwasher you bought 10 years ago is probably nowhere near as efficient as the dishwashers on the market today. Investing in a new one could potentially save you money down the line. If dishes aren’t getting clean, the tub is cracked or the buttons are unresponsive, it may be time to think about getting a new dishwasher.
- Installing a new hot water heater. A hot water heater may not be as obvious in showing signs of age until it just stops working altogether. That’s why as a general guideline, 10 years is a good benchmark for upgrading to a new hot water tank. If you don’t know its age, check the serial number on the tank.
- Re-caulking the bathroom. Re-caulking can give an instant upgrade to a dated bathroom. Re-caulk showers, tubs and sinks at least every 10 years to not only strengthen the seal in these areas, but to give your bathroom a fresh look. This 10-year task is both easy and inexpensive.
- Buying a new washer and dryer. Many people will opt to wait until their washer and/or dryer quits on them to purchase a new one, but keep in mind that the average age for these appliances is about eight years. If you have the budget for it, consider an upgrade once you hit the 10-year mark to prevent yourself from being left high and dry (pun intended).
- Updating light fixtures and ceiling fans. As time passes, so do styles and personal preferences—in this instance, pertaining to home décor. An average ceiling fan loses its optimal utility after about 10 years—after which time its style may be dated in your mind as well. Though they may be functioning, light fixtures may simply need an aesthetic upgrade after a decade has passed.
Of course, the updates your home needs every decade are not completely black and white. It all depends on your lifestyle, your luck and your financial situation. Use this as a guide to keep your home in the best shape possible!
For more home improvement insight, continue to follow the Ryan Roberts Realtor blog! And for your real estate needs in and around the Auburn, Opelika and Lake Martin areas, contact Ryan today at 334-750-9872, or email [email protected]!
