Ever since people have been living in built structures – and not just mud huts – theyâve been trying to figure out how to optimize the experience. Some of their ideas have been good – like putting down mats outside the front door. Others have been more – how do we put it? – experimental, and havenât always turned out as expected.
The problem for the modern homeowner is that houses are more complicated than ever. Theyâre not just âshelter,â as some people like to say. Theyâre sophisticated structures that incorporate multiple systems to elevate our quality of life. Heating, lighting, and insulation are just the start of it.
Therefore, the modern homeowner needs to follow a set of rules if they want their homeownership experiment to be a success. Thereâs no guarantee that it will be.
Rule #1: Prioritise Natural Lighting
Recessed and ambient lighting is all the rage right now, but it is, at best, a temporary fix. Itâs something that you use when the sun goes down – not as a substitute for it when itâs up.
Natural lighting is essential for the modern happy, healthy homeowner. You must get it right.
Introducing more natural light to your home is surprisingly easy and doesnât require significant home modifications. Small building projects, such as installing skylights, can make a tremendous difference. But even small things, like including more reflective paint, helps natural light enter the home.
Rule #2: Protect Your Property
Homes are the most valuable thing that most people own. Theyâre not just a place to live but also a way to safely store wealth without having to rely on the vicissitudes of the stock market.
With that in mind, investing in home alarm systems is essential. You want to include as many features as possible that keep opportunist criminals at bay and protect your family.
Interestingly, the range of options for protecting your property is increasing all the time, and becoming smarter. For instance, security systems can now tell the difference between a person sneaking around in your back garden and a stray cat.
Rule #3: Insulate Your Property
Insulation wasnât such a big deal when energy prices were low. But now that theyâve risen above general inflation for a long time, it has become a big deal.
Most homes have about two inches of foam in the attic, preventing heat from escaping through the roof. The state-of-the-art, however, is to install six inches or more. Yes, itâs a lot, but it can make a big difference in heating your home.
Rule #4: Always Maintain
Finally, homeowners should always work hard to maintain their properties. The average house loses about two percent of its value each year to depreciation. But maintaining it usually only costs one percent of its value, so itâs worth doing overall. Plus, even if the economics worked against you, you still want a nice place to live. Thatâs valuable in itself.
Maintenance should be a part of your monthly schedule. And, ideally, you should have a timetable for what work you need to do next.
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