Property maintenance comes with the territory when you own a home. Everything from lawn care and plumbing to roof repairs and taking general care when things age and break. For many people, property maintenance is no big deal. Some even revel in it and find it relaxing to do themselves.
Then there’s the rest of us, who don’t care for the do-it-yourself approach to home upkeep. Maybe we’re too busy, not into manual labor, or don’t possess the skills necessary to do everything needed. Regardless of the reasons, proper maintenance of your home still needs to happen.
Keeping your home in good shape is vital to protect your investment, keep the neighbors happy, and ensure a safe and comfortable place for your loved ones. This is why many of us pick up the phone and enlist the help of professionals to help us. Below, we’ll look into eight of the best property maintenance services any homeowner can hire.
1. Lawn Care Services
Everyone wants their lawn to be the greenest, lushest in the neighborhood. We want the nicely trimmed bushes, the colorful flowers, and maybe some hard scaling thrown in for good measure. But it takes a great deal of effort and time to achieve this goal. Some folks don’t have the time or inclination to get down in the dirt and hang with bugs while sweating in the sun.
Whether you’re opposed to nature or want someone with the talent to shape your exterior property into a thing of beauty, one of the best property maintenance services you can enlist is a local lawn care service. Lawn care specialists are masters of their craft and can turn your lawn into a masterpiece that will make your neighbors green with envy. In addition to mowing, a lawn care service will fertilize, seed, and aerate your lawn to keep it as full and healthy as possible. They’ll edge the areas around your front and back lawn, as well as any grass around the sidewalk.
Lawn care professionals can also help you install new green space or bring burnt-out areas back to life. They work with top soil supply companies and fertilizer companies to get the best quality products for their customers. They can also discuss proper drainage and watering of your lawn so as not to drown out your lawn.
2. HVAC Technicians
Having the number of a good HVAC technician on your phone is one of the best property maintenance tools you can have for your home. This service is the key to the comfort of your family: keeping you toasty in the winter, cool in the summer, and keeping the air allergen-free all year round. An HVAC technician is tasked with installing, repairing, and maintaining a home’s heating, ventilation, and AC unit.
As a homeowner, it’s wise to sign a contract with a reputable company. This way, they will come for regular service calls to inspect all units and check for issues, ensuring everything works properly. This will help prevent breakdowns on severe weather days and keep all systems working efficiently.
A few things your tech will do is test and clean the furnace, clean the air ducts and change air filters, check switches and control panels, and install smart thermostats. If you have outside units, they will clean and clear debris from them and check for defects. Having a contract will also give you the luxury of being at the top of the list for emergency AC repair and heating issues.
3. Remodeling Services
Whether you’ve recently purchased your home, have lived in it for years, or are having a custom home built, at some point, you’ll likely need the services of a remodeling company. Depending on what you need to do will determine the professional you need to hire. If you’re having a home built, a general contractor will be your best bet. These professionals work with architects to make the plans they’ve designed into reality.
A general contractor will use subcontractors like plumbers, electricians, and interior designers to build your home to your specifications and ensure it’s up to code. If you want to remodel your bathrooms, a bath remodeling company would be your best choice. These professionals specialize in bathrooms and will care for everything from plumbing and fixtures to tiles and flooring. If you’re looking to get an area and start from scratch fully, a general contractor is usually employed for that work as well.
If you’re looking to refresh and upgrade areas of your home, you’ll need the services of an interior designer, painters, and possibly flooring professionals. The interior design specialist will work with you to upgrade your space, choose colors and themes, purchase items, and oversee the other workers on the project. Sometimes, while concentrating on the inside, it’s easy to forget the great outdoors.
While thinking of remodeling, consider expanding your outdoor living space. If you don’t have a deck or patio, installing one is a great way to make extra room for entertaining or just lounging with the family. Deck and patio professionals can work with you to create a structure that best suits your yard.
Another way to improve your outdoor space is to employ the services of a landscape designer. This professional will design an outdoor oasis that matches your vision. They can provide ideas on flowers, color schemes, water installations like ponds, and hardscaping like benches, pacers, and retaining walls.
4. Driveway Pavers
If you’ve got a home, chances are you’ve got a driveway. Believe it or not, your driveway not only serves an important function, but it can add a lot of curb appeal to the exterior of your house. While there’s nothing wrong with a basic blacktop that can last many years with regular asphalt sealcoating, more and more people are moving away from this material for various reasons, including aesthetics.
There are so many choices for driveways now and one of the most popular is pavers. Driveway pavers can include brick, cobblestone, marble, flagstone, rubber, and plastic. Typically, a mason will install these materials and work with you on the layout and design. What type of pavers you choose depends on your goal for the driveway.
For instance, if you don’t use your driveway much and are looking for curb appeal, marble or cobblestone would be a great choice. But if you’re parking in the driveway daily or the kids play basketball regularly, these materials are too delicate for your needs. For something genuinely durable, you might consider rubber pavers. These are perfect for everyday use and are easy to clean, but beware, they tend to lack style.
Another type of paver that’s gaining popularity is plastic. They are filled with gravel or grass and come in a variety of attractive shapes. Plastic pavers are not only durable, but they are economical and earth-friendly. When considering driveway pavers, you’ll also want to consider upkeep, drainage, and the cost of repair and replacement.
5. Roofing Contractors
You probably know the old saying about having a roof over your head. Though a figurative term referring to having a home, it can also be taken literally. Having a solid roof over your head is vital to the safety of your family and property. A good roof will keep your home dry and prevent damage to drywall and electrical systems that leaks can cause.
A leaky roof can also cause mold and mildew that can make your family ill. Rotting wood and shingles can attract bugs and other vermin and nobody wants an infestation in their attic and eaves. An old roof can be a horror story, but the good news is that roofing contractors can prevent and repair all these problems.
When you buy a home, it’s vital to have the roof inspected and have any needed repairs done before signing on the dotted line. After that, you should have the roof inspected every 2–3 years by a professional. If you notice anything like loose or missing shingles, leaks or moss build up, call a roofing contractor right away. A roofing specialist can inspect the roof, attic, and drainage situation and give you an estimate on repairs.
They may need to simply replace some shingles, repair or replace jousts or plywood, install a vapor barrier, or caulk to seal up leaks. In some cases, the roofing contractor may need to tear out the existing roof and start from scratch. If you’re having trouble with drainage, many roofers also provide gutter service, where they repair or replace gutters and perform regular maintenance.
6. Plumbing Services
As a homeowner, one service you’ll probably need at some point is that of plumbing companies. You may require a plumber to fix leaks or faulty fixtures or unclog pipes. Plumbers can also install new piping, sinks, toilets, dishwashers, water filters, and anything else water-related. A plumber can also help maintain and repair septic tanks if you have one in your yard.
Sometimes, a plumber will work with a general contractor when building a new home or addition. You’ll also need a plumber if you’re finishing a basement or garage and need to run water lines and pipes for sinks, toilets, and refrigerators. Like HVAC, it’s wise to have a regular plumber who is reliable and located near your home. Many plumbers offer the option of signing a contract that will keep you as a priority. This is crucial during extreme weather or storms.
For example, should a pipe burst during a cold snap, you’ll need help right away. Plumbers can be hard to come by on the spur of the moment during good weather. When it’s freezing out, they’re almost impossible to get a hold of, and if you can, you’re likely to spend a lot more than average on an emergency call. A contract will keep a set price for emergencies.
7. Landscaping Services
While landscapers can perform the same duties as a lawn care specialist, they also focus on maintaining the entire property. They’ll trim bushes and shrubs and edge the lawn to keep everything looking neat. A landscape service will also perform weed control and lay mulch. You might consider going to a top soil supply company and buying it yourself to cut costs.
Your landscaper will also prune and trim trees and take care of any leaves on your property. This may help you avoid having to call a separate tree trimming service. Landscapers may work with a hardscaping contractor to install paths, rock gardens, fountains, ponds, and walls to beautify your yard.
If you’re having trouble with drainage, a landscaper can grade your lawn, so water flows away from your home. In the fall and winter, you can keep your landscaper busy by asking them to clean the gutters and remove snow from your driveway and walks. Some landscapers also act as gardeners and will plant flowers and gardens and tend to them for you.
8. Drywall Contractors
A drywall contractor is an essential service when you own a home. They can install new walls when finishing a basement, attic, or garage. They’ll also be needed for any remodeling projects or additions you do to your home. They will also be able to tear out and replace any drywall that’s been damaged by water and developed mold or mildew.
A drywall contractor typically works with a general contractor, so the service would likely be included when putting an addition on to your home or remodeling a kitchen or bathroom. If you’re just looking to repair or install drywall, many contractors work independently, and it will be much more affordable than hiring a general contractor. You can also purchase your materials to cut down even more on drywall services.
Between work, school, and various obligations, many families find it challenging to keep up with the demands of being a homeowner. Luckily, we have professionals who are happy to take up the slack. When considering any maintenance service, be sure to ask around and do your research. Ensure that anyone who works for you is licensed and insured. With the help of professionals, your home can be as good as new again!
