Seasonal Home Maintenance Schedule
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
REAL ESTATE
SPONSORED CONTENT
Now that the temperatures are dropping and the leaves have fallen , it ’ s important to focus on home maintenance to help prevent larger problems ( if completed on a regular basis ). Here are some tips to show you what to do seasonally and semi-annually to keep your home in top shape . While some of these tasks may seem obvious , others may not have crossed your mind .
FALL AND WINTER
• Check the clothes dryer hoses , change out filters and clean out the lint traps .
• Flush your hot water heater .
• Review your homeowner ’ s insurance policy and have it re-quoted or adjusted if necessary .
• Caulk around exterior doors and windows .
• Clean out your gutters to keep them free of debris .
• Have chimneys inspected and cleaned before lighting the fireplaces to keep you warm on chilly winter evenings .
• Caulk around bathtub / shower stalls .
• Seal ceramic tile grout .
SPRING AND SUMMER
• Check the attic and basement for cracks that could be allowing water to seep into the house . This is particularly important after a rainy winter .
• Look for overgrown tree roots that could damage foundations , driveways and walkways .
• Power-wash the siding , deck , patio , driveway and sidewalks to freshen them up .
• Have windows cleaned .
• Trim tree branches and shrubs .
• Repair cracks in sidewalks , driveways and steps .
SEMI-ANNUALLY
• Change the air filters in your HVAC system .
• Check outdoor vents for obstructions and debris .
• Test smoke alarms , carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers . Change the batteries in the alarms and detectors .
• Have your heating and A / C systems serviced to confirm that they are in good working order .
• Activate the sump pump by dumping a bucket of water in the basin . As you can see from the list of items , there is a lot to do to maintain a home throughout the year . If you are in need of service professionals to assist you with any of these tasks , I would be happy to provide you with contact information for my referral partners who work in these fields . Please contact me at your convenience if I can be of service with these items , or if you are in need of assistance to sell your home or to purchase a new one .
This Industry Insight was written by Darlene B . Kruth , a Sales Executive with Northwood Realty Services . Darlene is a licensed real estate agent in the state of Pennsylvania and has designations as an Accredited Staging Professional (“ ASP ”) and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (“ SRES ”). For more information regarding Darlene ’ s services and qualifications , please contact her at 412.831.0100 x3013 ( office ), 412.874.0415 ( cell ), or email her at dkruth @ northwood . com .
South Fayette | Winter 2016 | icmags . com 19