Maintenance of a home is often a tedious chore, and the need for this can be lessened if houses are constructed with the latest materials that have in-built technology that greatly reduces the need for maintaining them. These low-maintenance homes can still be attractive and functional but will require lesser attention to their maintenance.

Using the latest technology materials can lead to an increase in costs, but it is easier to absorb these higher costs in mortgages that have to be paid for over the years than to find the money for the repairs, every now and then, that is needed for homes built in the traditional way. Using metal roofs instead of shingle can give you a roof that requires almost no maintenance, while it is still attractive and aesthetic. You can even use tiles, or shingles that come with a lifetime guarantee.

The exteriors of homes, when built with traditional brick and plaster that is painted over, requires to be repainted every couple of years. Change over to vinyl, fiber cement or metal siding, and you have exteriors that need almost no maintenance other than a thorough cleaning once in a while.

Wooden windows require constant attention, while this will be lesser in powder-coated aluminum or windows made of uPVC. Use metal or fiberglass for entrance doors as well as fittings that come with a lifetime warranty. Go in for laminate floors that give you the appearance of wood and have surfaces that are tough and easy to clean. Use ceramic tiles for bathrooms and kitchens as they will last a lifetime and are very easy to keep clean.

See that your garden has plants and shrubs that are native to the area and not very demanding of maintenance. You can use artificial grass as a lawn, as it will save you the trouble of mowing it and there is no need for any weed removal. Gutter guards on gutters can save you the need to clean gutters at regular intervals. Use LED lights as they have a longer life and will not require to be changed frequently.

Get ovens that are self-cleaning, and install induction cooktops instead of gas ranges. Use ducted vacuum cleaning which will save you the trouble of dragging vacuum cleaners. Using gas or electric heaters can save you the trouble of chopping wood.

While you can get professionals to design and build low maintenance homes for you and reap the benefits that they bring in, you can always extend this philosophy to everything that you need in the home, appliances, furnishings, floor coverings and others. Whenever you need anything new in your home, pay a lot of attention to its need for maintenance and buy only things that will require the least attention, and yet be able to function and work as you need them to.

Low-maintenance homes are easier to live in as they do not need your constant attention at attending to their cleanliness and repairs. You will, however, need to dust and clean them regularly so that you live in a hygienic environment.