Like any important investment you need to put aside time habitually to keep your house in the best condition possible and ensure it retains its value.

Here are five tips to keep your house in the perfect condition:

1) Check the roof:

One of the first places to see damage on a home is the roof. You need to check your roof frequently, as issues here can go ignored until they become a big predicament (and you get leaks). Do a visual investigation for slipped, cracked or severely damaged tiles. Look at the pointing and get somebody in if this is in a bad condition. You should clear away moss from tiles if it's starting to take over. And give gutters a decent clean out regularly, removing all leaves and weeds before they can block anything up.

If your guttering has had issues that can't seem to be mended then it may be time for some replacement guttering This might include links, sagging or cracks that do not appear to disappear with your cleaning and improvement work.

If you want to go the DIY direction then there are a number of gutters available on the market to buy at DIY stores. You can select to get PVC-U guttering or cast iron gutters though you should hold the thought that cast iron gutters are heavier and therefore more challenging to install on your own.

If you are unable get access to your roof, contract a reputable gutter replacement small business to do this for you. A quick search on google for Fascia,soffits and guttering should suffice, but remember to add in your local area on the search to narrow it down and find a local business that way.

2) Inspect for damp:

Regularly inspect your walls for damp. It's a major problem that you must treat straight away if you catch sight of it. Dampness can get through defective mortar joints or hairline cracks in any rendering. In older houses the walls are usually solid which encourages damp but in many cases damp is encouraged because of poor maintenance. The roof, walls, floors, windows and doors and pipe work in and outside the house, are all likely causes of damp. Generally a damp patch inside the house is simply identified as being linked to a problem outside the house.

A damp patch at the top of a chimney breast will indicate the probable explanation is a leak through the chimney stack. A wet patch at the top of a wall might possibly be due to a leaking gutter outside which will call for repairing or replacing

3) Check anywhere water goes:

Be sure the cement mortar around waste pipes is in a excellent state and check water down pipes for splits or leaky joints. If there is anything growing on your walls such as climbing roses or ivy, either clear away it or keep a very close eye. These plants can damage brickwork and preserve moisture in the wall.

4) Keep woodwork in good condition:

All wooden window and door frames should be painted at least once every three years. This will stop dampness getting in. Renew any broken sash cords in windows, and fix broken or cracked glass right away.

5) Stop leaks before they occur:

Inside your home check your plumbing pipework and waste pipes for joint leaks. Now and again clean up bath and sink traps. And if the seals between baths and showers and the wall are starting to deteriorate, replace them straight away.