Money Saving Tips for Homeowners

Being a homeowner is a rewarding experience. However, it can come with extra expenses that you may not have been prepared for when you signed your mortgage. Don’t let routine maintenance and other regular expenses break the bank. Use these money-saving tips to help you out around the house.

Do an Audit

Did you know that many HVAC companies will conduct a free or low-cost home energy audit on your home to see where you are doing well and where you have opportunity to improve? They don’t take long to complete and can shed light on areas around your home where you may be able to improve energy costs. Home audits can potentially save you thousands of dollars down the road.

Be Prepared

Your home is an investment, and if you’re like most homeowners, you want to protect that investment. Purchasing homeowners insurance to protect your home in the event of fire, theft, or other damage can not only save you money in the event of an emergency, it can also provide you with peace of mind knowing you’ll be taken care of. Additionally, you can install home security systems too.

Another way to prepare for unexpected home repairs is with a good home warranty. A home warranty will help pay for repairs when your home systems and appliances break down. Always read the fine print and know the coverage limits for the home warranty you purchase.

Replace Bulbs

Incandescent bulbs aren’t as energy-efficient as you may think, and in fact, could be costing you. Make the switch to LED bulbs around your home, and you should see significant savings— sometimes up to 20% on your monthly energy bill.

Insulate

Providing your home with the proper insulation can keep your home warm in cooler months by trapping excess heat and preventing it from escaping your home. In warmer months, insulation can also keep your home cool by preventing the sun’s rays from passing through into your home. While it can be expensive to insulate your home up front, it can save you quite a bit of money down the road.

Use Less Water

Each day, we waste thousands of gallons of water. However, you can take measures to prevent the amount of water you waste by installing low-flow shower heads and energy-efficient toilets which use much less water than traditional fixtures. Making these simple moves can reduce your water waste and your monthly bill.

Lower Temperatures

At night and when you aren’t home, you likely don’t need to have your thermostat turned up very high. Program your thermostat to automatically adjust its temperature to lower levels when you aren’t around to help save on your heating bill. You can also invest in a smart thermostat, which will let you monitor your thermostat from your phone or even learn your habits and adjust itself based on your family’s activity.

Replace air filters

Your HVAC system should have its filters replaced twice a year or more if you have pets. When your filter gets too clogged, it can’t run at max efficiency which may cause your unit to malfunction and your monthly energy bills to skyrocket. Have your filter replaced regularly to keep your system running at optimum efficiency and to reduce the likelihood of an HVAC repair.

When you use these money-saving tips, you should have not only fewer repairs to worry about making, but you should also have a thicker wallet as a result. With all your savings, you can focus on other projects, like the home renovation you’ve had your eye on.