What kind of home maintenance will I have to do?

Remember, as a homeowner, you are now your own landlord! You are responsible for taking care of your home. When your home is brand new, it will probably hum along without a problem. Make sure to ask your Habitat advisor for information on what items in your home are protected by a warranty and how long each warranty lasts.

As your home gets older, you may need to repair or replace some items to keep you home in good repair. If you’re not handy with home repairs, ask your Habitat affiliate office to give you a list of subcontractors in your area for repairs and replacements.

Basic Home Care Taking care of your home is a big responsibility because of all of the things a home comes with. Here are some of the items you’ll need to know how to maintain, use, fix, or replace: • Screens • Paint: interior and exterior • Carpeting • Lawn: includes mowing, raking, and trimming bushes and trees • Smoke detectors • GFI outlets • Toilets • Washer and dryer • Water heater • Pipes • Pest control • Roofs • Gutters and downspouts

A lot of home maintenance is easy to do and fairly cheap. Your Habitat affiliate or local hardware store can provide you with resources for making your own repairs.

To help you plan for replacing large items, take a look at how long things last.

How Long Things Last Item Typical Number of Years Carpeting 11 Concrete walk 24 Furnace or heat pump* 10 to 12 Paint (exterior) 5 to 10 Paint (interior) 7 Range (gas or electric) 17 to 19 Roof (asphalt shingle) 15 to 20 Water heater 10 to 15 * A heat pump can both heat and cool the air.