Tag: home maintenance

Your Summer Home Maintenance Checklist

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Your to-do list always seems to have some kind of home maintenance project on it, especially when a new season begins. Between your pool days and backyard BBQs, make sure you work consistently on the upkeep of your home. Not sure where to start? Luckily, we’re here to help.

 

  1. Check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. It’s recommended that you do this once a month, so be sure you’re always putting this at the top of your checklist.
  2. Prep your air conditioner. The sweltering heat means that your A/C and fans are going to be working hard to keep you cool. Be sure you keep units clean and switch out the filters once a month in order to make sure there’s no disastrous break down and that they’re operating at peak performance during the few months you need them.
  3. Keep your grill clean. It may have been months since the last time you fired up the outdoor cooker for burgers and steaks, so give it a deep cleaning. The burnt residue of last year’s forgotten hot dogs won’t improve the flavor of this year’s hot dogs.
  4. Give yourself a porch worth perching on this summer. Dirt and debris can accumulate on your porch, especially after a harsh winter. Sweeping and mopping your porch can do a lot to refresh the atmosphere and make it the perfect place to enjoy those summer evenings.
  5. Detail your deck. It’s important to hammer in any nails that are coming up and could cause someone to trip. Check for rotting and see if it might be time to reseal it.
  6. So mulch to do for your garden. Mulch keeps weeds down and can help your plants retain the moisture that the summer sun tries to take from them. You should also find time to get rid of the dead foliage and let your plants focus their energy on the healthy parts of the garden that are trying to bloom. Train your garden for the hot and dry days by setting up a new watering schedule. Water a few times a week with more water than you usually add rather than watering them lightly every day. It helps promote strong and deep roots.

 

We hope this summer checklist won’t interfere with any of your plans and will make your house the hub for all the season’s best get-togethers. If you or a loved one are looking for a new neighborhood that offers everything you need for a fun family summer, we’re here to help you find that dream home!

DIY Fouls: 4 of the Worst DIY Mistakes Homeowners Can Make on Investment Properties

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While it may seem like a good idea to save a buck and perform investment property repairs yourself, DIY repair projects don’t always pay off, and things can get ugly rather quickly. Stay away from these common DIY mistakes that homeowners make, and leave them to the licensed repair professionals.

#1 Drywall Repairs. An extra coat of paint is no biggie, but if your investment property’s walls are in need of drywall repairs from things like cracking around windows (generally speaking, if you can stick a coin in it, there’s a problem), settling around door frames, or holes in the wall, it’s tricky to get it right on your own. Enlist the help of a drywall professional who has the tools and experience to repair the issue correctly.

#2 HVAC Repairs. Your investment property’s heating and air conditioning systems are complex, and they’re often connected to gas and electrical lines. Making a small mistake can jeopardize the system and lead to costly repairs. Hire a licensed HVAC technician to correct any problems.

#3 Electrical Repairs. Installing a ceiling fan or a simple light fixture isn’t usually a big deal. However, when you start dealing with circuitry and breaker boxes in your investment property, the potential of seriously injuring yourself or starting a fire increases dramatically. Electricians are up-to-date on all the recent code requirements, and they have the advantage of working with electrical systems daily. It may seem like a good idea to go it alone, but don’t fall prey to this DIY mistake.

#4 Plumbing Repairs. Incorrectly repair a plumbing issue, and you’ll find yourself in a lot of hot water, no pun intended. While a leaky toilet in your investment property may appear easy to fix, the problem can escalate, or there may be more to the issue than meets the eye. Because water damage is serious and expensive to fix, start at the right place, right from the beginning: hire a licensed plumber.

While it may be exciting to put on your DIY cape when it comes to your investment property, resist the urge–at least on these four important items. Spending the extra money to have a licensed repair professional evaluate the issue prevents DIY mistakes from turning into costly DIY problems.

Have a real estate or investment property question? Reach out to me anytime.