Today’s blog post marks the first in a series focused on the importance of home maintenance.
Before I begin, you may be wondering what makes me an expert. To start, my dad is a general contractor, and I’ve been around construction and real estate for my entire life. After college, I worked for commercial contractors for 15 years before transitioning to real estate. I know the various divisions of construction (masonry, plumbing, and electrical, for instance) and understand the building blocks (literally!) of this industry. I’ve now been a realtor for almost nine years. In total, I’ve been through over 1,000 inspections. I’ve learned from these inspectors and know what it takes to maintain a property, both inside and outside.
Why It’s Important to Maintain Your Property
The climate in Central Florida makes home maintenance particularly important. From heat and humidity to hurricanes and hail, the weather here is hard on your property. Plus, home owners have to contend with flooding, settlement (because we live on a sandbar), mold, and moisture. Consistent upkeep ultimately saves you both time and money, ensuring that these problems don’t become unmanageable or cause serious damage.
As a homeowner, when it comes time to sell your house, you want the highest price possible. And the only way to make that happen is to present your house in the best condition possible.
Home Maintenance Tips
Now, I want to provide you with part one of my home maintenance checklist, organized by frequency. Let’s take a look at your monthly and quarterly upkeep items.
Monthly
It’s important that you change your air filters every 30 to 90 days, depending on the type of filter you use. When you purchase a new air filter, you’ll see the manufacturer’s recommendations for a replacement schedule. You may need to change your filters more or less often depending on your home size, appliance size (i.e. a smaller home may have a smaller air conditioner, which means the filter will need to be replaced more frequently), air quality, pets, the season (more on that below!), and more. I recommend taking a look at it every month. After a few months, you’ll learn how quickly it becomes dirty and how often it needs to be replaced.
You should also test your smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers every month.
Additionally, I tell my clients who own a single family home to walk the exterior of their property once a month. Look for any cracks, settling, or anything else that’s out of the ordinary. If you see any potential issues, call your realtor for a professional opinion.
Quarterly
Your quarterly home maintenance varies based on season. Below, I’ve listed a few items to consider. Note that some of these items will align with your biannual and annual checklists, which will be covered next month.
Spring
Inspect the roof for missing, loose, or damaged shingles and leaks.
Power wash your windows, siding, and decks.
Clean window and door screens.
Remove debris from your gutters and downspouts.
Have your air conditioning system serviced.
Drain or flush your water heater.
Fertilize your lawn.
Summer
Oil your garage door opener and chain, garage door, and all your door hinges.
Clean refrigerator and freezer coils. Empty and clean drip trays.
Check your dishwasher for leaks.
Clean kitchen exhaust fan filter.
Check your kitchen and bathrooms for leaks.
Seal tile grout.
Prune trees and shrubs.
Fall
Schedule a professional inspection of your forced-air heating system in early fall before the heating season begins.
Check your fireplace for damage or hazards and clean the fireplace flues.
Check the doors and windows for cracks or gaps and seal with weather stripping or caulk if needed.
Remove debris from your gutters and downspouts.
Inspect the roof for missing, loose, or damaged shingles and leaks.
Check your water heater for leaks.
Winter
Inspect the roof, gutters, and downspouts for damage after storms.
Clean drains in sinks, tubs, showers, and dishwashers.
What’s Next
Next month, I’ll share your biannual and annual home maintenance checklists and take a look at what you need to do every five years and beyond. Plus, I’ll give you a list of the average lifespan of materials and appliances in Central Florida, from your roof and windows to your air conditioner and hot water heaters.
Let The Urban Dog Group help you with your real estate needs. Contact Christine Elias at caerealestate@gmail.com.