Taking care of a home is a responsibility that no homeowner (or renter) can afford to neglect. If you’re not properly looking after your home, you will eventually end up with many maintenance tasks that can’t be delayed and, in the worst case scenarios, costly damage. Even if your home was built in the last 30 years, you still need to take care of it and update it regularly. If you want to know more about how to update a home built in 2000, this is the article you need.

We’ll discuss the many ways you can ensure your home continues to look fresh and avoid unnecessary maintenance costs by taking good care of your home.

Without further ado, let’s jump right in.

Paint Your Home’s Exterior

First on our extensive list of advice on how to update a home built in 2000, we recommend that you paint the outside of your home. Such a task will be time-consuming and can be a lot of work, but it’s definitely worth your time and effort. Exterior painting will give you the opportunity to enhance your home with a completely new look while also giving it protection against the elements. Also, while you’re working on the walls, you can inspect your home for any cracks or other structural problems that can become a big deal in the future.

Repair Roof and Gutter

We can’t discuss how to update a home built in 2000 without touching on the subject of the roof and gutters. Your roof will last far longer if you take the time to actually look after it rather than just forgetting about it as most homeowners do. Blockages in your gutters will lead to a lack of water drainage, which has the chance to really mess up your life. Regularly work with your local roof and gutter repair experts to ensure your roof and gutters are in good condition and don’t have any weak points or damage to worry about.

Incorporate Solar Energy

Solar energy is the way of the future, and if your home doesn’t have solar panels and other solar-related elements installed yet, you need to install them as soon as you can. Solar energy is renewable and far more friendly towards the environment, so working with residential solar companies to update your home is not only financially smart but environmentally responsible as well. You’ll be able to cut costs with solar energy by installing elements like solar lights and a solar geyser. Plus, these elements improve a home’s value in general, so if you ever want to sell, you’ll be more likely to get the price you want.

Maintain the Chimney

Chimneys make homes feel cozy and welcoming, and they look stunning, but they also require regular maintenance. You should schedule cleanings before you use the chimney and don’t forget about chimney repairs. Even when your chimney looks perfectly fine, it’s a good idea to get an expert to inspect it and make sure it’s in top-notch condition. It’s better to play it safe than to risk damage and even accidental fires because something’s amiss with your chimney. By maintaining your chimney properly, you’re ensuring it will last longer, improve its heating efficiency, and prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Regrout Dingy Tiles

While structural integrity is an important topic when discussing how to update a home built in 2000, you should also keep your home’s interior look and feel in mind. Chances are that you haven’t retiled your bathroom tiles since you moved into your home, and they may have become a bit eroded and perhaps even loose by now. You don’t have to completely redo your bathroom, regrouting the tiles is a good fix. Grouting is an affordable alternative that will help your tiles last longer. You can do this yourself, or hire an expert to take care of it for you.

Install New Home Siding

Your home’s siding is essential when it comes to protection and insulation, so new siding install plans are great if you’re hoping to update your home and ensure you and your family don’t have to worry about the elements. Make sure you use a professional service to take care of this task for you, because they’ll use the right tools and materials that will last longer and be more efficient at keeping your home insulated and protected. Regularly updating your home’s siding will ensure you enjoy energy efficiency, improve your house’s value, and help you spot structural damage or problems that need your attention.

Layer Carpets

In this discussion on how to update a home built in 2000, we’re discussing all related elements and features, such as the interior decorations of your home, in addition to the outside maintenance. Your carpeting may have started to look a bit faded and scruffy after many years of use, and one of the best ways to update it is by layering carpets. Rather than completely removing your carpets, you can lay down layers of rugs that complement each other in design and color. Doing so can also protect the bottom layer of the carpets, so use this idea if you have carpets that are thinning.

Replace Old Carpets

If the layering of carpets won’t solve your carpeting problems—the carpets may be too stained or frazzled to use anymore—you should consider replacing them instead. Typically, carpets have a lifespan of ten to 15 years, so if it’s time for new ones in your home, use this as an opportunity to try out new colors and designs, updating your home’s interior value at the same time. If you don’t want carpets anymore, hardwood flooring or tiles can completely change how a room looks and are great alternatives.

Update Your Doors

What did your home’s doors look like when you bought it or first moved in? Were they hollow, light in color, and flat, or thick and shiny? Did you love the doors or simply accept them? Updating the doors of a house is one of the coolest ways to change how it looks without the need for construction or difficult projects. If you want to know how to update a home built in 2000 without making structural changes or spending days or weeks working hard, this is the way to go. Choose doors that suit your home design ideas and update some other elements like your wall art and furniture to match.

Repair the Garage Doors

Speaking of doors, what does your garage door(s) look like? Is it still attractive and functioning as it should? Poorly maintained garage doors are dangerous and you or your family members can get hurt by a faulty door. That’s why it’s important to do a dedicated garage door repair project once or twice a year, or as time goes by. If necessary, call in an expert and get them to replace your garage doors so they’re not only looking good but working perfectly as well.

Whitewash Wood Paneling

When it comes to understanding how to update a home built in 2000, it’s important to remember that completely removing something that needs attention isn’t always necessary. Sometimes, simply renovating or taking care of problems is all you need to do. If you have wood paneling in your home, this is one area where you can skip removal and simply whitewash it to get a new appearance. You can brighten up a room this way, and whitewashing is a nice way to change the room’s aesthetic quite quickly.

Waterproof Your Home

If your home was built in 2000, it might already have some form of waterproofing going on, but rather be safe than sorry and add waterproofing to your important ‘to-do’ list as soon as possible. There are several ways you can waterproof your home and the materials used also differ depending on the part of the building you want to insulate. You should waterproof your roof, walls, and the balcony or terrace if you have one. This is a task that requires knowledge and experience, so it’s best to contact a local waterproofing service to help you take care of it.

Add Wallpaper

A really affordable and easy way to update your home is by adding new wallpaper. The awesome thing is, these days, there are so many designs and colors to choose from, as well as wallpaper made to remove later. We’re not talking about wall decals, but actual wallpaper that can be removed in the future if you want to update your home’s interior again. Some of these can even be reused, making them really good for big family homes with many rooms. Update and change how your home feels by investing in reusable wallpaper.

Paint the Kitchen Cabinets

Another really interesting way to update your home is by giving your kitchen cabinets a new layer of paint. Kitchen renovations can be quite costly, but you don’t have to go that far to improve how yours looks. Choose a color or theme you really like, contact expert cabinet painters, and see how something this simple can transform your kitchen into a whole new space! Cabinet painting is awesome and you can use this idea in other rooms with cabinets as well, like your bathroom or bedroom.

Change the Baseboards

Do you want to know how to update a home built in 2000 without spending hundreds of dollars and dedicating many hours of hard work? Then simply change the baseboards in your home. A simple update like this can make a huge difference to how a room looks, and you can make yours fit in perfectly with the decor of the rest of your home. If you want, you can make your current baseboards look bigger by adding a beautiful wooden layer/trim an inch or two above them and then painting the trim and the space between them a color that matches the rest of the room.

Add New Lighting

New lighting is a fantastic way to update your home, and also important because it can help you ensure your home’s electrical wiring remains stable and safe. The lighting in a room can create a specific kind of mood, so change the lighting to match the ambiance you want most. You can make a dark and cramped room look airy and open by adding more light and strategically placed lighting can make a room feel cozy and warmer than before.

Change Window Treatments

Your window treatments have likely been left untouched for years now, and there are few elements that can make a room feel outdated the way they can. Old blinds or old, heavy curtains should be replaced by bamboo shades and other, more modern window treatments. Try it for yourself and see how it completely changes how your rooms look, which eventually changes how your entire home looks.

Replace the Windows

While we’re on the topic of windows and how to update a home built in 2000 (or later), window replacement is a good idea too. You don’t have to settle for simple wooden frames and single-pane glass; you can have windows that enhance your energy efficiency, reduce sounds, and look stunning. Replace your windows as soon as you can for better security, boosted home value, and reduced allergens and dust reactions.

Landscape Your Yard

Last, but not least, you can update your home by giving your yard new life via carefully planned landscaping. Contact a landscape company to determine how to breathe new life into your yard and work with the experts to improve everything that needs improving. Add more flowers, lush plants, and perhaps even an outdoor eating area, and your entire home will feel updated and new.

Now that you know how to update a home built in 2000, there’s no reason for your living space to become worn out and unfashionable. Take care of your house and keep it updated by following the advice shared here and you’ll have a wonderful home for many years to come. You can use all the tips here that apply to your home, and add a few of your own to ensure you’re really giving your house the love and care it deserves.