Remodeling can be frustrating but it's also exciting -- filled with anticipation and visible rewards at the end of the project.

You have just remodeled your house. The WORKS! You've got a dream house with a master's bedroom suite that would let you feel you are in a 5-star hotel, a very flashy exterior and home entertainment center of your dreams. Your place looks so great that real estate agents are dropping off their cards telling you how much they could sell your place for, if you felt like putting it on the market. After all the time and money spent on the property, what would you do next? - MAINTENANCE.

Unlike remodeling, maintenance is not that exciting, but you have to do it if you want to retain the value you've added to your home. For example, wooden floors, depending on the wear and tear, the floor needs to be refinished every 5-10 years. Not doing this in the right time might create permanent damage to the wood and decrease the value of the house or make repairs more costly. For exteriors, depending on factors such as weather, repainting might be needed every 5-10 years.

Annual inspection of roof and gutters is needed to see if patching is needed. Clogged gutters and drain spouts can cause serious damage when there is flooding.

Whether you are to stay in the house for so long or not, the house needs to be maintained to preserve its value and command a higher price in the market.

Annual home maintenance checklist:

House exterior: If the house has a wooden exterior, check if the paint has not worn away so much that the primer paint is showing. If the primer also wears down, the wood could be damaged.

Roof: Note if any shingles have fallen off or if gutters or downspouts appear clogged or damaged. A reputable roofing company to do the inspection. They won't try to sell a new one unless really needed. You can simply pay them for an inspection.

Kitchen: Plumbing leaks can damage the cabinets and floors. Check around and under the sink for leaks. Check and repair grout and caulking on tile countertops and around the sink. Also check wear and tear on wooden floors. This type of floors should be periodically be refinished or as the need arises.

Bathrooms: Check grout on tiles. If the grout gets worn away, water will start getting into the walls behind the bathroom, causing damage. Check for plumbing leaks.

Basement: Look for leaks and cracks in the flooring and foundation. Buildings settle over time and even after decades of having a dry basement, leaks may suddenly occur.

Attic: Check for signs of water marks in the ceiling or water leaks from the roof. Also look for any sign of termites or rodents. Squirrels or rats that nest in your attic can chew electrical wiring, which can lead to electrical short circuit and fires.

Smoke alarms: Batteries need to be changed annually.

Heating system: If yours has a filter, change it annually or follow what is stated in the manual.

Air conditioning system: Change all filters as recommended by the filter manufacturer.

Asphalt and concrete driveways: Repair any cracks or buckling.