That's crazy! Your house is just like a car, or even your body. It needs regular servicing - good property maintenance to keep it fit and well. You need to deal with small problems as they occur to prevent them becoming more expensive and serious problems.

Use this simple guide to property maintenance to ensure the value stays in your home.

ne of the first places to see damage on a house is the roof. You need to check your roof regularly, as issues here can go unnoticed until they become a big problem (and you get leaks). Do a visual inspection for slipped, cracked or badly damaged tiles. Look at the pointing and get someone in if this is in a bad condition.

You should remove moss from tiles if it's starting to take over. And give gutters a good clear out regularly, removing all leaves and weeds before they can block anything up. Having efficient working guttering is one of the most basic property maintenance necessities… good guttering will help to protect your property from the ravages of the weather.Next up, check your walls for damp - a serious problem that you must deal with straight away if you find it. Dampness can get through defective mortar joints or hairline cracks in any rendering. That means it's always sensible to fill any surface cracks, no matter how small they may look.

Check the cement mortar around waste pipes is in a good condition 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 remove it or keep a very close eye. These plants can damage brickwork and retain moisture in the wall. Also keep a wary eye on trees or large shrubs growing near the house. Their roots can damage the property over a number of years.

The next step is another property maintenance basic - keep woodwork well painted. 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 immediately.Inside the house, you should check your plumbing pipe work and waste pipes for joint leaks. Now and again clean out bath and sink traps. And if the seals between baths and showers and the wall is starting to deteriorate, replace it immediately.

It's another property maintenance "must do" to get your central heating serviced once a year by a qualified engineer. Not only will they ensure your boiler is running efficiently, but they will check for dangerous carbon monoxide emissions. Don't be tempted to skip this service - the safety of your family could rely on it.

Following these basic tips won't take a huge amount of time throughout the year, but will ensure that your property stays in top condition - essential to protect your investment.