If you have completed the home-buying process well, you will enjoy the fruits of your labors for many years. Maintain your home well. If you take care of your purchase, it will take care of you. For example, having your home professionally cleaned a few times a year can help retain your home’s value. For budgeting purposes, realize that maintaining your home will generally require roughly 1 percent of the home’s value each year, so add that amount to your budget. This amount should be an included expense that you will likely pay each year.