Who are the Enemies of the Estate? - Solve the below riddle to find out:
We are a combination that can bring a house down,
Turning a happy home into a sad, sorry frown.
The first partner can be clear and cool,
but its force can be cruel, leaving you feeling like a fool.
The Second partner is a patient friend,
Slowly eroding always there until the end.
Together, we can make a home feel old,
leaving behind a story that’s tragic and cold.
We don’t discriminate, any home we’ll do,
we can take down a castle, or a house that’s brand new.
Our impact is great, our power immense,
Leaving a trail of damage that is hard to make sense
Did you manage to crack the riddle?
The Enemies of the Estate are Water & Time; for as long as humans have been able to build homes a never-ending war began between humans and both Water & time.
When they attack individually, they can be quite destructive on their own but completely devastating and malevolent when working together, costing billions internationally every year in repairs for homeowners.
As you may or may not have probably already thought to yourself ‘Humans have discovered and developed new materials and construction methods to delay the onset of Water and Time’, yes, I would agree. But, if both are left unchecked, they will without doubt inevitably cause damage to your property in some way or form.
Common items that can cause damage to your property through Water and time:
- Plumbing: plumbing pipes that are not maintained properly can develop leaks and cause water damage to walls, floors and ceilings. One of the biggest contract killers is water damage in bathrooms or toilets from a slow leak that has been left unchecked, damaging the waterproof membrane and causing significant damage to the internal wall substrates including mould growth.
Note: Waterproof membrane damage is generally not covered by insurance companies. Most professional tradespeople will opt for a full replacement of wet areas (shower areas for example) once the membrane is compromised, which can be quite expensive.
- Sealants & Grout: Maintaining and replacing old sealant and grout is crucial. If left unattended water can penetrate these areas and cause significant damage. Another main cause for compromising the waterproof membrane in wet areas.
- Roofing & Gutters: Roofing and gutters that are not regularly maintained and cleaned out properly can develop leaks that can lead to internal damage to your property.
Note: It is known that with some insurance companies, if you cannot provide evidence or regular maintenance to the roof of the property, they will not cover roof damage.
- HVAC Systems: Air conditioning units and heating systems that are not regularly serviced can start to leak and create damage.
- Home Appliances: Dishwashers, washing machines, and plumbed refrigerators can all leak if they are not maintained regularly.
- Mould: Areas of the property that have high humidity and/or do not get regular sun can be susceptible to Mould growth and buildup. Mould can lead to a lot of damage to external and internal substrates over time breaking down surfaces but this is easily preventable through regular house washing or keeping high-humidity rooms ventilated (exhaust fans, adequate windows, etc).
- Exterior Walls: Exterior walls that are not maintained correctly can develop hairline cracks that can develop and grow over time, this will allow water to seep into the home causing significant internal damage.
As you can see through this brief blog Water and time can lead to a lot of damage to a property if left unattended. Not only is this isolated to these two elements, but there are also numerous items that should be regularly maintained or checked at your property/s. Reacting to maintenance can be far more expensive than the alternative. One of the best and most inexpensive ways to keep on top of your property's maintenance is by employing a Preventive Maintenance mindset. Some key things to remember when thinking about the maintenance of your property/s are:
1. Understanding that nothing last forever.
2. Regularly auditing and upkeep your property to keep it maintained is just as necessary as brushing your teeth every day or regularly servicing your car. Your home or investment property is one of your largest investments why wouldn't you maintain it to ensure it keeps or appreciates its value?
3. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. Your prerequisite when looking for tradespeople or property managers shouldn't be who is the cheapest, it should be who is going to do the best and correct work. Are the tradespeople qualified? Do they warranty their works and products and do they have insurance? By dedicating a small amount of time to researching trades you can give yourself a better chance at qualifying and employing the correct company to carry out work at your property.
If you do not have time to keep on top of your property/s maintenance or do not have the knowledge to practical skills to fix it yourself? Not a problem, employing a qualified and professional building and pest inspector to complete a house inspection annually; will help to ensure the house gets a regular audit. This is a great way to find out the current status/condition of your property with non-bias. Building inspectors will give suggestions as to how to prevent ongoing maintenance, they will also refer you to the correct type of trade to employ when having to repair an item.
If for some reason you are not convinced about the preventative maintenance mindset after reading this blog? Please read below for further inspiration.
Listed below are what some of the world's greatest minds have famously quoted regarding the importance of preparation:
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
― Benjamin Franklin
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
― Abraham Lincoln
“Plan for what it is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“The future depends on what you do today.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Thank you for reading.