When you have a beautiful home, you want to make sure that you’re able to maintain the value of your investment. Your future can be impacted by how well you protect your house. This includes keeping it clean, free from pests, and well maintained to make sure everything is cared for properly. So how do you do this?

Make Upgrades as Needed

Periodic upgrades are just one of those things that have to happen from time to time. Homeowners should put aside a couple thousand dollars yearly to make sure that they can keep up their home’s needs. There might be years when you don’t need to make major upgrades. However, sooner or later you’ll need to replace an HVAC system or your roof. If you prepare ahead, you won’t have an unpleasant surprise that strains your budget too much.

Keep It Clean

Keeping what you have clean can help prevent it from needing remodeling and upgrades for decades to come. Lots of things can be cleaned with simple, natural solutions that are easy to use. You can combine dish soap with rubbing alcohol to create a solution for cleaning countertops. Add baking soda to this solution to create a paste to scrub grease stains and other tough messes. Wiping down cabinets, baseboards, windowsills, and other similar surfaces regularly will keep them looking better longer, in addition to discouraging pests.

Get Rid of Junk

It can be tempting to keep collecting items over time until they fill up most of the space in your home. The problem is that your home is a lot more difficult to clean if your home is cluttered. It’s also a lot harder to see issues like the presence of pests, foundation problems, or problems with your flooring. Get rid of things you no longer need or want. If it doesn’t make you happy to have, it can go. You might find yourself enjoying some economic benefits of reducing clutter in your home.

Protecting your home and keeping it in good shape is one of the best things you can do to protect your investment. Keeping it clean and well cared for will get you off to a good start. It should mean that there is less need for remodeling or future repair due to neglect. Remember, the future of your home is dependent on the good choices you make today.

Remodeling your bathroom can increase the value of your home. Read this next: Where to Spend Money on Your Next Bathroom Remodel