For most homeowners, home maintenance happens when something breaks down or needs immediate replacement. But like a regular health checkup, your home also needs a regular home maintenance schedule especially after a long, dark winter. While winters in Houston are relatively temperate compared to most areas in the United States, winter can still be tough on your property both outside and in causing snow buildup on your gutter system, moldy walls, rotten door frames or worse, cracks on your foundation; and leaving you with costly repairs come spring time. Now that spring is almost here, time to prepare your spring home maintenance checklist.
Your home is your biggest investment that’s why maintenance is a must. Home maintenance can be overwhelming, especially to new home owners, but it doesn’t have to feel that way. We’ve prepared a Spring Home Maintenance Checklist to help make this process smooth and straightforward for you. Navigate your home’s spring upkeep with our home maintenance checklist. Follow this expert advice not just to get your home ready for spring, but also to preserve your home’s value.
Time for some spring cleaning!
Spring Maintenance Checklist – Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Home Ready for Spring
1. Examine roof shingles.
Do a quick visual inspection of your roof. Are there missing, loose, or damaged shingles? Are there visible leaks? Do you see any nails popping up? All of these roof issues should be addressed quickly by a qualified roofer.
2. Clean gutters and downspouts.
Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause your roof to leak or water to infiltrate your home. Bear in mind that you can always hire a professional gutter cleaner.
2. Clean your chimney.
Chimneys needs regular checkup and cleaning depending on the moisture content of the wood you’ve burn. Some type of wood causes a buildup of creosote and soot, hardened layer of buildup or worse uncontrollable fire.
3. Clean windows and screen doors.
Walk around your house and check all caulk lines and weather stripping, and if necessary, re-caulk window frames and doors. Power-wash your window and screen doors to remove dust, dirt, and bugs.
4. Schedule heat or air-conditioning service.
Just because your AC unit cools fine, it doesn’t mean it’s working efficiently. So, check your cooling units before summer. You can check by yourself, but it’s crucial to have your air-conditioning system serviced. Hire a licensed professional to service to thoroughly check your unit from mold or mouse droppings.
5. Check outside hose faucets for freeze damage.
If you have a frost-free exterior hose bibs, great! If not, check that your faucets, sprinklers or irrigation system have not iced up. Check your hose connections for any leaks to avoid wasting water. Hire a professional to check sink, shower, and bath caulking for deterioration. You’ll save money on water bill and protect your home from water damage.
6. Check for signs of termites.
Generally, termites swarm when the weather begins to warm. If you suspect you have a termite problem or notice any termite swarmer around your home, contact a professional termite control specialist immediately.
7. Examine Brickwork and Stucco.
Check for spalling, chipping, deteriorated mortar and unsightly deposits. Rinse off any moss growth by pressure-washing the surface. If you’ve discovered water penetration in brick, seal the brick with the appropriate sealant and immediately replace any damaged areas.
8. Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Spring’s bright sun and warm wind is the perfect time to have friends and family around. With summer just around the corner, it’s necessary to check your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.
9. Inspect walkways, driveways and paths.
It’s always a good idea to take a walk around your property to check walkways, paths and driveways for damage as freezing and thawing is rough on asphalt, concrete and landscaping materials.
10. Check your deck for signs of cracked wood and loose nails.
Chances are your patio or deck is covered with winter grime. After cleaning thoroughly, replace and fix any cracked wood and loose nails. Wobbly deck posts and railings should be stiffened as well to avoid accidents.
Your home maintenance can be quite lengthy and finding the time to do all of them is hard to come by. Let’s be honest – being a homeowner can be tough sometimes. You have a lot on your to-do list. So, start with your spring home maintenance checklist for all that. You deserve to have a property ready for the summer.
Maintaining your home is a top priority and if ever you find yourself needing help, Apogee Properties can assist with all your property maintenance needs. It’s our goal to ensure the ongoing health of your investment property all year round.
