With homeownership comes a newfound responsibility that most people don’t know they signed up for: regular maintenance and upkeep. Just like you make time to go to the gym to remain in tip-top shape or have your car’s oil changed to keep its engine humming, your house also requires some routine TLC.

Unfortunately, even the most vigilant homeowner can sometimes let things fall through the cracks. A leaky pipe here, some exposed wiring there, and before you know it, you’ve got a mountain of issues on your hands.

Because you never know when a minor issue will turn into a full-on disaster, the best home maintenance company in Dubai offer annual contracts that entail regular, thorough inspections of your home, identifying potential problems and their causes and assigning a skilled technician to implement the right solution.

Here are four reasons to commit to an annual home maintenance schedule:

1. Raising Resale Price

Buying a home is a long-term investment; whenever you intend to sell, you’ll surely want the highest return on that investment. A well-maintained house with a documented history of improvements and repairs is sure to increase resale value.

Prospective buyers will likely notice a fresh coat of paint, a well-functioning AC system or upgraded plumbing fixtures, and no doubt will be willing to pay top dollar for a property in such great condition.

2. Avoiding Costly Repairs

Several experts recommend budgeting a minimum of 1% of your property’s purchase price for repair and improvement costs every year. To put this into perspective, if you buy a two-bedroom apartment in Dubai for AED one million, you should ideally set aside AED 10,000 per year for upkeep.

As counterintuitive as it may sound, preventive maintenance often saves you a lot of money in the long run. That AED 10,000 spent on routine repairs and replacements could quickly balloon up to AED 100,000 should you need a new plumbing system, for example, in case of water damage from a neglected or undetected leak.

3. Saving Energy

Sticking to a regular home maintenance schedule can also curb excessive energy consumption and lower your utility bills. For example, in Dubai’s hot and humid climate, your AC unit will likely be running almost the entire year.

If the AC ducts or filters are left uncleaned, they can collect dirt and dust over time, which can cause the unit to strain harder to maintain a certain temperature and, as a result, use more energy.

Here, routine AC servicing can help by examining the system’s filters, pipes and ducts for signs of dirt buildup or damage and cleaning them to restore the system’s efficiency and keep energy consumption in check.

4. Keeping Your Family Safe

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), electrical malfunctions are among the top causes of residential fires. Faulty wiring and overloaded circuits can lead to sparks or short-circuiting that could spiral into a full-blown fire.

Signing up for an annual maintenance contract with a reputable service provider can prove invaluable here. As part of their service, professional technicians inspect your home to check for any faulty wiring or leaking gas lines that could be hazardous to you and your family. They can also install smoke detectors around the house to alert you to any fire risks so you can take immediate action.

Additionally, a maintenance contract can also come with emergency call-outs in case of urgent problems or breakdowns.

Have Regular Home Health Checks

A well-maintained home is a happy and safe one.

That’s why small increments of time and money invested in the routine upkeep of your property can mean a world of financial, mental and physical benefits for you and your family.