Housing Finances 4 Actions Every Homeowner Should Take Right Now Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Written by Mint.com Published Mar 28, 2014 2 min read Advertising Disclosure The views expressed on this blog are those of the bloggers, and not necessarily those of Intuit. Third-party blogger may have received compensation for their time and services. Click here to read full disclosure on third-party bloggers. This blog does not provide legal, financial, accounting or tax advice. The content on this blog is "as is" and carries no warranties. Intuit does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of the content on this blog. After 20 days, comments are closed on posts. Intuit may, but has no obligation to, monitor comments. Comments that include profanity or abusive language will not be posted. Click here to read full Terms of Service. What makes something worth the time and the money? When it comes to your home, it’s all about long-term benefits. These four actions will save you tons of time and money down the road! Plant Trees If you have a yard that can handle it, planting a few trees on your property will go a long way. Not only will trees provide comfortable shade and reduce your cooling bills during the summer, they’ll also increase your property value by 7 to 15 percent over time. Win-win! Keep Track of the Past Ten years from now, are you going to remember the exact date you had your roof repaired? Probably not! Routine maintenance and upkeep is a lot easier when you have detailed records of everything that’s happened to your home, so record as you go. Tip: An easy way to do this is by filling out your Homefolio on BrightNest. Inspect “Hidden” Areas How is the insulation in your attic looking these days? What about the pipes in your basement? These unseen areas of your house can fall into disrepair if you don’t check them out every once in a while! For a more detailed list of important spots, read: Inspect This! The BrightNest Home Maintenance Roundup. Be Proactive It’s easy to ignore small problems around the house. But if you get into the habit of ignoring issues like squeaky doors, peeling wallpaper and dripping faucets, you no longer have a “small problem.” You have a Frankenstein monster of minor complications. The solution is easy: if something’s broken, simplify your life by taking care of it right away. BrightNest is a free site that provides tools and tips to homeowners to help them save money, get organized and keep their homes in great shape. Sign up for a free BrightNest account today! Previous Post How to Lower Room and Board Costs at College Next Post Will Paying Down a Mortgage or Auto Loan Faster Improve… Written by Mint.com More from Mint.com Browse Related Articles Mint App News Intuit Credit Karma welcomes all Minters! Retirement 101 5 Things the SECURE 2.0 Act changes about retirement Home Buying 101 What Are Homeowners Association (HOA) Fees and What Do They Cover? Financial Planning What Are Tax Deductions and Credits? 20 Ways To Save on Taxes Financial Planning What Is Income Tax and How Is It Calculated? Investing 101 The 15 Best Investments for 2023 Investing 101 How To Buy Stocks: A Beginner’s Guide Investing 101 What Is Real Estate Wholesaling? Life What Is A Brushing Scam? Financial Planning WTFinance: Annuities vs Life Insurance