Happy June! If you’re like us, you’re thrilled that warm weather has arrived so you can finally enjoy not only the inside of your home, but the outside too. You’ll get even more enjoyment if your house is in good repair, and you’ve taken measures to address the effects of severe winter weather. Here are a few suggestions for gearing up for summer:
Check outdoor spigots for leaks: If you didn’t drain your outdoor water spigots before the weather got cold, ice could have expanded the pipes to the point of bursting. Call a professional to have it checked out if you think you could have a leak, before you end up with a big water bill or flood damage!
Reseal exterior woodwork: Extend the life of your decks, fences, railings and other wooden structures by resealing every year or two. (Be sure to scrub or pressure-wash them first – great for the life and look.)
Check your roof and gutters: Heat, wind, debris and ice can do a lot of damage up there. Get the roof checked to see if water has gotten to the underlying plywood. Also, have your gutters cleaned to keep your roof in good shape and ensure proper drainage away from your house.
Get your air conditioning system tuned up: Have an HVAC professional clean the unit and change filters. This will help keep the system working efficiently, saving you money on energy bills and prolonging the life of the equipment.
Have a chimney check-up: Debris can collect inside and become a fire hazard. End the cold weather season (finally!) by having a professional clean, inspect and make sure your chimney is in good repair.
Head off insects and pests: Keep your grass short, and be sure to remove weeds and wood piles from your yard. Keep shrubs trimmed away from any patio and play areas. Look around for termites, too! They love summer as much as we do, so if you see a swarm, get a professional to treat the area.
If you’re not sure who to call for any of these items, we’d be happy to provide referrals to some of the skilled professionals that we trust, or who’ve been pre-screened through our partners at Long & Foster’s Home Service Connections.
Or, if you’re interested in knowing how much your home is worth in today’s crazy market, we’d be delighted to provide you with a free competitive market analysis.
We look forward to hearing from you; as always, please don’t hesitate to contact us for any other real estate question or need.
Have a wonderful summer!!