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Your home is likely your largest (and most important) investment. Not only is a home purchase a huge financial undertaking, but your house keeps you safe from the elements and welcomes you home after a long day. To keep your home as comfortable as possible (and to protect your largest assets value) it is crucial that you understand the basics of home maintenance.

Here is your crash course on home maintenance 101.

Monthly to Seasonal Maintenance Items:

Change HVAC filters (frequency need depends on pets and dust in your home)
Test smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers
Each seasons respective outdoor maintenance (including lawn and garden care)
Vacuum lint from dryer vent
Clean gutters

Each season will come with its own list of to-dos, and while it may be easy to push them aside until later, a small time investment now will mitigate the need for costly and time-consuming repairs in the future. With each season, be sure that you know the extra tasks you need to complete in addition to the ones listed above (such as covering spigots and wrapping pipes in winter).

Annual Maintenance Items:

Roof Inspection
HVAC Inspection
Flush Water heater (You may need to do this as often as monthly depending on the mineral content of your water)

As you can see, annual maintenance involves a good deal of inspections to the more expensive components of your home. While you can go the DIY route, experts recommend that you hire a professional to check for any issues that a novice may have difficulty spotting. Issues like loose tiles on a roof can cause extensive home damage under the right circumstances; it can be well worth the investment to hire a professional.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If your home has a basement, there are many things you can do to make use of the extra space. From simple storage to a functional living space, finished or unfinished, the possibilities are endless.

Here are five ways you can utilize your basement.

Apartment
Whether your basement is already finished or you plan to remodel, turning the space into a guest or in-law apartment combines functionality and value in your home. Include a full kitchen or a kitchenette, as well as a bathroom. If possible, a separate entrance would be ideal, especially if you plan to rent it out, which can help cover mortgage payments or other home expenses.

Game Room
Adding an air hockey table, foosball table or other games is a great way to make use of this space. Create a pool room with comfortable seating and a bar for a fun and luxurious place to relax. Bring in classic arcade-style games, like PacMan or a pinball machine, for a nostalgic and kid-friendly hang out.

Den
If youre looking to create more of a family space, a den is a great choice. Dedicate this to your family as a space where you can come together, relax and bond. Add a projector for movie nights and a stack of board games for a family night in. Even use your den to host parties, watch big sporting events or celebrate holidays without taking over the main living area upstairs.

Studio
Are you or someone in your family an artist or musician? If so, you can turn your basement into a studio. Bring in whatever materials you may need, from easels and paint to recording equipment and soundproof walls. With this private space, you can dedicate yourself to your art whether its a career or just a hobby.

Storage
Of course, if you decide to skip the renovations or remodels, you can still utilize this space. Store your holiday decorations, seasonal items, spare linens, personal items and so much more in an easily accessible room. Your basement can also be home to your washer and dryer or even a spare refrigerator or freezer to hold extra food and drinks. And if you host parties or holidays often, you can keep spare tables, chairs, platters and more without feeling overwhelmed in your main living space and keeping your garage clear.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

The dripping of water from a faulty faucet isnt really loud, but it can be so annoying that it seems deafening. Plus, every drip is a reminder that youre wasting water, and money, which can make sleeping even more difficult.

Luckily, fixing a leaky faucet is often an easy job that just about anyone can do. Heres how:

Turn off the Water
Underneath your sink is a valve that brings water to your faucet. Turn it to the right to stop the supply of water. If by some chance there isnt a valve here, turn off the water for the entire house.

Remove the Handle
Start by taking off decorative parts of knobs, which you can do with a flat-head screwdriver. Then, use a screwdriver to remove the screw underneath the cover. If the screw is behind the handle, use a hex key or Allen wrench to remove it.

Take Out the Cartridge
The cartridge is a part of your faucet that turns with the handle, thus controlling the flow of water. You can loosen it with a crescent wrench. Some faucets may require the use of a specialized tool to loosen the cartridge. Check your owners manual. If you no longer have it, you can likely find information about your faucet model online.

Install the New Cartridge
Replacing the O-ring and washer may make the repair, but keep in mind that the new O-ring or washer needs to be a precise fit. Or, you can replace the cartridge itself. To buy the right cartridge, you should know the faucets manufacturer and model number. You can also bring your old cartridge to a home repair store.

Reassemble the Faucet
Tighten the packing nut with a crescent, but dont make it too tight. Then put back the handle. Turn the water for the faucet back on and test the faucet, both hot and cold water, for a few minutes each.

If, as you go along, you discover a different problem, or making this repair doesnt end the leak, it may be time to call in a professional.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

The kitchen is the heart and hub of any home. While you may spend most of your time in other rooms, the state of the kitchen is sure to reflect in all areas of your life. A messy and cluttered kitchen makes it difficult to have family dinners, healthy, home-cooked meals and can be an all around stressor. If youre ready to clean out your kitchen, but dont know where to start, these tips are for you.

Vet Your Spice Rack
If your spice rack is overrun, its time to toss anything unnecessary. Ground spices generally last only six months. Spice doesnt necessarily expire the same way other foods can, but it does start to lose its potency overtime. Keep your meals fresh and tasty while decluttering your counters and pantry by discarding any old spices. An easy way to test if a spice is old? Simply sniff them; if they dont smell as fresh as they used to, they likely wont pack a punch in your next dish.

Rethink Your Seasonal Items
Those extra-special Christmas dishes that you havent used for fear of breaking or the fondue pot that you swear you will use for a party someday should not take up space in your kitchen. Decide if you truly plan to use them or if its just wishful thinking. If the item isnt useful or overly sentimental, it may be time to pass it along to a new owner. If you just cant part with it, move it to a storage spot. Consider also storing seasonal items you do use. Since you dont need them everyday, youll save room for the items you do use consistently.

Pair Down Your Dinnerware
Most households dont need a dish set for 12. If youre not regularly hosting dinner parties, you may benefit from donating or storing your additional dinnerware. Keep four of everything for households of two and a little more for larger families. You will cut down on dishes in the evening (since no one will simply reach for a clean plate instead of doing dishes) and you will save space in your cabinets. A win-win solution.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If you own a house, you need homeowners insurance to pay for repairs or stolen belongings. Many people believe that homeowners insurance will cover any necessary repairs, but it actually applies only in limited circumstances. A home warranty can provide protection in other cases.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
Homeowners insurance will pay for losses caused by a covered peril, such as a storm, fire, theft or vandalism, up to the policys limits. Depending on the coverage you choose, your policy may cover replacement cost, which is the amount of money required to purchase a new identical or substantially similar item, or actual cash value, which takes depreciation into account.

What Does a Home Warranty Cover?
A home warranty is not insurance, but rather a contract that a homeowner signs with a home warranty company. It will pay to repair or replace a broken appliance that is not covered by a separate manufacturers warranty.

A home warranty may cover major systems, such as HVAC, electrical and plumbing, as well as major appliances, such as a refrigerator, stove, oven, washer and dryer. Many companies offer basic plans with limited coverage and allow homeowners to add optional coverage for an additional fee. A home warranty may only pay to repair or replace appliances or parts in certain circumstances, and a broken appliance will not necessarily be replaced with one that was made by the same manufacturer or that has the same features.

Home warranties often exclude coverage for appliances or systems that werent well maintained. If you bought a house and the previous owner didnt take care of something, a home warranty might not cover repairs even if you performed all recommended maintenance after you purchased the house.

Who Makes Repairs?
Some warranties allow homeowners to choose a repair company, while others work with a network of service providers. When a homeowner files a claim, the home warranty company sends a local contractor to the home to inspect the problem, decide whether repairs are required and covered by the warranty and complete covered repairs.

How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost?
The cost of a home warranty depends on the type and size of the home, the location and the coverage chosen. The homeowner must pay a service fee when a contractor comes to inspect a problem, whether the issue is covered by the warranty or not. If two different types of contractors, such as a plumber and an electrician, are needed to complete repairs, the homeowner may have to pay a fee for each.

Is a Home Warranty Right for You?
Even if you have homeowners insurance, there are a lot of things it wont cover. A home warranty can protect you from large and unexpected repair bills. Before choosing a home warranty, research several companies and find out what each of their planscover and how much the premiums and service fees would be so you can make an informed decision.

Published with permission from RISMedia.