You've done it. You've finally gone though all the steps and found the house and gotten the loan,

and everything that goes along with all of that. Whew. Now you get to rest for a minute, right? Wrong. Now you have the task of keeping the house in smooth running order. I'm not talking about deciding who empties the dishwasher. I'm talking about keeping the house from falling into ruin. Upkeep is an important job, and it is going to take you some work, but it is worth it.

Before I mention the things you can do, I'll talk about the things you can't. NATURAL DISASTERS are out of your control, and there is no two ways about. Flood, earthquake, hurricane, tornado, locusts (these should not be a problem), all those fun and news making events. There is no way to prevent them, and most standard home owners insurance doesn't cover them, calling them Acts Of God. So if you live in places where these things occur, you'll want to get the extras that your insurence offers you (at a cost, of course) or specialized insurance for these events. It sucks, but if you've ever seen footage of what a tornado can do, you'll realize you want it.

Now, the things you can do.

First know that water hates your home. Be it the ROOF or the BASEMENT, water wants in. This can cause both structural and cosmetic damage, as well as ruin your belongings. It can also allow mildew and mold to form, causing damage and possible health issues. If your roof has a leak, fix it and fix it fast. If your basement is flooding, get a sump pump or get it sealed or build stilts. Do whatever, but do it.

Next we have the wiring. The ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, unless you are Amish is very important to watch because if things go wrong, it WILL burn your house to the ground. It will also shock the hell out of you or your kids if you play around with it not knowing what you're doing. Unless you have training, get a professional. It not only keeps your home safe

but prevents you from looking like a fool who lacked the sense to call a professional.

PLUMBING for me is easy: I call someone. I can use a plunger well enough, but aside from that I have no knowledge and considering what can go wrong I intend to keep it that way. For those of you with more know how, plumbing might be less frightening. If your pipes are old, replace them. If they leak, get on it fast as we know water hates your house. If they freeze or make a lot of noise, have a look. If they burst, call someone fast.

HVAC SYSTEM. This means HEATING, VENTILATION

, and AIR CONDITIONING. Change the filters on a regular basis, and if things are acting up, call a professional. This is some complicated stuff. If your furnace is gas, inspect it yearly. Most gas companies will inspect them for free. Same goes for the HOT WATER TANK.

TERMITES. They don't hate your house. They love it and find it tasty. Keep the wood pile away from the house and call an exterminator on a regular basis to inspect and destroy. They will eat you out of house and home.

If you live off the beaten trail, there is also the WELL and SEPTIC TANK. Those are very much things for professionals.

It sounds like a lot, and it kind of is. But the idea is for your home to increase in value, or at least stay the same. If you ignore these little things, they will turn into big things and them you are really going to have problems. Stay alert, stay positive, and stay one step ahead.

PS...Water hates your house.

For more information visit

Legal Loan Bailout.