Spring will be here in just a few weeks, and as the weather warms up it’s a perfect time to do a few maintenance items around your home to protect your investment. Here’s a good checklist to guide you through your spring inspection.
Around the Yard
Start with the most visible part of your home—the year. Remove any dead plants and foliage, trim back overgrown plants, and start planting for spring. Growing areas differ depending on climate and location, so if you’re planting something new, check with a local nursery or gardening center before you plant to make sure it will thrive. Prune existing shrubs and trees, and look to remove branches that may be interfering with power lines in addition to branches that are scraping against your walls or roof. If you have a built-in sprinkler system, run a test to check for leaks and inspect the sprinkler heads.
Deep Spring Cleaning
Clean wooden decks, sidewalks and driveways with a power washer. Fill in any cracks that may have appeared over the winter in your concrete and asphalt surfaces as well. If your home has gutters, make sure they are cleaned of debris (including the downspouts) so that water flows freely. Also check and fix any issues with rusted, bent, sagging or damaged gutters. Inside the home, check your washing appliances; your clothes dryer vent accumulates lint, which can become a fire hazard, so now is a good time to give it a more thorough cleaning. Finally, clean your windows and screens to let that spring light shine in.
Inspect and Repair
There’s nothing worse than finding a problem with your roof when things are dire. Use the new season as an excuse to inspect your roof for any leaks or damage and make repairs before they become unmanageable. Have your air conditioning unit inspected with a seasonal maintenance check-up to ensure it will be up and running when you need it most, and change your furnace filters so they’re ready for the next time the weather gets cold. If you have a crawl space under your home, check for moisture and/or standing water to avoid issues with mold and mildew; it’s easier to do in the cool spring than the hot summer or the freezing winter.
Completing a thorough annual spring inspection of your home helps you find small problems before they become larger, more expensive issues. When your house is in tip-top shape, that means more money when it’s time to sell. Whether you’re looking for a new place to call home, or preparing for life post-retirement, let a friendly Open Mortgage loan originator find the right loan for you. Contact us today.