Avoid 4 Common Mistakes Homeowners Make
Written by Wena Roeloffze, Real Estate Broker and Lifestyle Expert for Realty Club 74. Brokered by Coldwell Banker Realty.
Avoid These 4 Common Mistakes Homeowners Make After Moving In
Keep your home beautiful, valuable, and stress-free—year after year.
Buying a home is an exciting milestone. In the first year, most homeowners dive in with enthusiasm—painting a few rooms, updating light fixtures, maybe even redoing a bathroom. But once life settles and the boxes are unpacked, it’s easy to slip into maintenance autopilot.
Fast forward five or ten years, and even the most well-loved homes can show signs of neglect—not because homeowners don't care, but because they forget how important steady upkeep is.
If you’re a homeowner, here are 4 critical mistakes to avoid so your home stays in great shape and your investment keeps growing:
1. Delaying Service Checks on Mechanical Systems
Out of sight, out of mind—but this can cost you. Your furnace, air conditioning, water heater, and other mechanical systems quietly work around the clock, and regular servicing is essential to keep them efficient and avoid costly breakdowns.
Another problem I regularly see is that a lot of people use their basements for storage and when it’s not organized well, it starts to overflow and can easily block the view to the mechanicals. On top of that, it can also block access to those operating systems. Leaks or issues are easier detected when you can see the whole system at first glance.
If you are planning to finish a space and perhaps drywall around a mechanical, make sure to leave enough space for someone to enter and work around it. Water heaters were not designed to last forever - someone has to take it out and replace it - keep that in mind.
Tip: Schedule annual checkups for HVAC, water heaters, and plumbing systems. Catching issues early can save thousands in emergency repairs or replacements. Keep enough space around it open for easy access.
Mechanicals with enough space around it
2. Neglecting Paint and Flooring
Walls and floors take a beating over the years, especially in high-traffic areas. What was fresh and clean during move-in can fade, chip, or stain over time—making the whole home feel tired.
Even wall paper can become an eyesore after years. Luckily these days we have peel and stick which is easily applied and removed. Also consider hiring professional painters that can complete the job in a short and timely way without creating more chaos in your life. Sometimes the money spent on that, far outweighs the DIY project that doesn’t seem to end.
Carpeting can easily look and smell bad. You don’t need pets or small children to have spills and smells. Get a professional carpet cleaner out instead of managing stains.
I am not always a fan of loose carpeting (because of tripping hazards), but loose carpeting has the advantage of being easily washed or replaced to protect hardwood flooring. It’s also a decorative item that can change the look of a home drastically.
Tip: Repaint key rooms every few years and deep clean carpets and hard floors annually. For hardwood or tile, professional polishing can go a long way. Don’t wait until you’re selling the home to make it look its best—enjoy it now!
Accent carpets can be very modern and change a room’s aesthetic
3. Going Big Instead of Small on Renovations
Many homeowners wait and save for a “big renovation”—a major kitchen overhaul or an addition—but in the meantime, smaller upgrades often get ignored. The result? A home that feels outdated even if you're planning a massive remodel someday.
The problem with big renovations is that one usually leads to another. If you just spent a fortune on your new kitchen, but your bathroom still has a green toilet, you would definitely need to spend more money. Smaller and more regular projects tend to be far more practical and easier on the pocket. For example: if your kitchen cabinets look dated, but are still in good condition and all your appliances are working well, it is a better option to paint your cabinets and install modern hardware to give it a more updated look. Of course there are many considerations to this like layout, amount of cabinets, etc. But the point here is that bigger renovations are not always the best answer. Smaller and consistent updates are far better.
Tip: Tackle small, manageable upgrades like new cabinet hardware, modern light fixtures, or a refreshed vanity. These mini-projects can dramatically improve both function and aesthetic without the stress or cost of a full remodel.
Painted cabinets can make a kitchen look brighter and updated
4. Overlooking the Landscaping
Curb appeal matters more than people think. Overgrown shrubs, cracked walkways, or patchy grass send a silent signal that a home isn’t well cared for. Plus, letting landscaping slide can lead to larger problems like drainage issues or foundation stress.
This is maybe the number 1 mistake I see regularly. Plenty of times, the outside yard is responsible for water seepage into the basement, whether it is a tree too close to the home, incorrect grading or neglecting to drive water away from the foundation. Just like regular service check-ups, your grading and yard should be on the priority list. If yardwork is not your thing, there are plenty of landscapers available to assist. If the exterior of your home is maintained well, your interior automatically lasts longer and better.
Tip: Treat your yard like another room in your house. Keep it tidy, trim, and seasonal. Even simple touches like fresh mulch, a few planters, or outdoor lighting make a big difference.
Keep your garden easy to maintain
Final Thought
You don’t need a massive budget or endless free time to keep your home looking and functioning at its best. What you do need is a plan—and a commitment to avoiding these four critical mistakes.
Think of home maintenance as a long-term relationship: a little effort over time goes a long way. Your future self (and your future buyers, if you ever sell) will thank you.
Realty Club 74 is dedicated to assist all homeowners keeping their most important possession valuable. Get in touch below to get started. We offer services that include the following:
Value assessment of home in current condition and equity of your real estate;
Proposal of which updates will provide the best and most value;
Proposal of which contractors will be a good fit to complete any projects.