To-Do List for Homeowners every 5, 10 and 15 years
If you are like 47 percent of Americans, you may have lived in your home for six to 10 years. According to The Zebra, another 35 percent of homeowners have lived in their homes for 10 to 15 years, and California homeowners stay in their homes the longest.
Homeownership comes with a long list of responsibilities. Regular maintenance is at the top of the list.
Keeping your roof free of debris is probably on your monthly or quarterly to-do list, especially if you are concerned about fires. That goes along with regular yard/landscaping maintenance.
What about those longer-term maintenance and improvement options?
Every 5 Years
Painting
When you bought your home, chances are it sported a new paint job inside and out, to increase its sales appeal. After three to five years of living in your home, a repainting project could be on your list. Sprucing up your home’s interior by choosing a new color palette can make the place feel like new again. Depending on weather conditions and materials, your home’s exterior could benefit from repainting, on average, about every five years. Whether you hire a paining crew or make it a DIY project, the cost is modest compared to some other projects.
Replace Wall-to-Wall Carpeting
The carpeting in your home may or may not have been new when you moved in. A good rule of thumb is to replace it every five years or so. If anyone in your family suffers from allergies, you may want to remove it entirely and switch to vinyl or wood flooring.
Bathroom Refresh
Bathrooms are surely the busiest rooms in the house. A partial remodeling of a bathroom can provide a fun refresh without costing a lot. Every five years or so, just by replacing or updating the color scheme with new accent paint, towel sets, lighting fixtures, colorful bathmats and storage accessories, you can give your bathrooms a cost-effective facelift!
Every 10 Years
Home Appliances (depending on the brand)
Knowing the age of your appliances will help you calculate your schedule for the replacement life of certain items. Remember, they might not have been new when you purchased your home. The other factors to consider are family size and habits. A family of four that includes small children may put more wear and tear on appliances than a couple with no children. However, a childless couple who loves to entertain and host parties could put the same or more pressure on appliances than a family of four.
The following appliances, with proper maintenance, have an average peak lifespan of 10 years, give or take two years on either side:
- Dishwasher
- Dryer
- Garbage disposal
- Microwave
- Washer
- Water heater
Refinishing Hardwood Floors
Depending on the use your floor gets, 10 years is the average time between hardwood floor refinishing. The cost will depend on whether you hire a professional or decide on a DIY project. It is good to keep in mind that refinishing a floor requires moving ALL the furniture out of the room (or rooms), unlike painting a room where furniture can be moved to the center and covered with drop cloths.
Every 15 – 20 Years
Oftentimes, long-term projects are done in preparation for selling a home, to increase its sales value and appeal. However, some homeowners simply want to stay put and enjoy updating their living space. Of course, it is hard to avoid the mandatory maintenance and improvement projects that need doing whether we like it or not.
Roof Replacement
If your roof is covered in asphalt shingles, the stated life of the roof can range from 15 to 25 years, with the average hovering around 15 years. It is dependent upon the miniclimate your home is located in, the foliage surrounding your home and your own maintenance level to keep the roof free of debris.
Replace Wooden Fencing
Wooden fencing has a hardy average life of around 20 years. Since fencing can represent an investment almost as hefty as a new roof, you’ll want to examine your fence closely for wear, tear and rot. Some fencing may only need partial replacement, so a careful inspection at the 20-year mark (or before) is in order.
Complete Bath and Kitchen Remodels
After twenty years, frequently used areas of your home may be in line for complete remodeling projects. That usually means going in and removing everything from sinks, tubs, fixtures, lighting, cabinetry, tiles, flooring – the gambit, commonly referred to as gutting the space. An architect can help with a complete redesign that makes the best use of a space with all the modern accents.
If you have questions about how to update or redesign any aspect of your home, AplosGroup would be happy to help.