The maintenance plan

The holidays are over, so now what? I use this month to think about yearly home maintenance and improvements that are “need to do” or “want to do” items. There are always things that should be part of your ongoing home maintenance, which includes:

• Service your HVAC system

• Change filters in your furnace and water filters if needed

• Replace batteries in smoke detectors and CO2 detectors

• Clean gutters now that the leaves are off the trees

• Check drainage systems to make sure they're functioning correctly

• Trim vegetation around your home to ensure ventilation vents are clear

• Check for any possible leaks under sinks, toilets or at your water heater

• Conduct a visual inspection of the exterior of your home looking for potential problems

Did you know the recommendation for a pest inspection is every 2 to 5 years? This is because most of us don’t crawl under our homes to look for leaks, infestation or dry rot. It’s a good idea to do this periodically and if you’re thinking about selling, it’s extremely important to know the condition of your home before putting it on the market. This can save you money and avoid undue stress during a sale. There’s a saying in real estate and you either “pay as you go or pay at the end”. I prefer to handle things as needed, which will keep repair costs down and avoid bigger problems down the road.

Prioritize your list, which will help you get the important items taken care of first and hopefully allow you to get other things on your list accomplished as time and money allow. Crossing things off the list gives you a great feeling knowing that your biggest investment is being cared for and this will pay off should you become a seller now or in the future.

I’m always here to help.