As temperatures start to drop, now is the perfect time to prepare your home for winter. Winterizing your home not only makes it more comfortable, but it can also help you save on energy bills and prevent potential damage. Here’s a quick guide to get your home winter-ready:
Leaving garden hoses connected during winter can lead to frozen pipes and damage to outdoor faucets. Before the first freeze, make sure to:
Before you do anything, start with decluttering. Potential buyers need to be able to envision themselves in your home, and that’s difficult if your personal belongings are everywhere. Go through each room and remove items that you don’t use regularly. This includes old magazines, extra knick-knacks, and personal photos. Not only does decluttering make your home look more spacious, but it also helps you start packing early.
Upon receiving ownership of the home, one of the first things you should do is re-key all the exterior doors. Whether that is changing the locks or having a locksmith perform this task, this will provide you an extra level of security in your new home!
Buying a home can be an exciting, and sometimes overwhelming process—we’ve all been there! When you hire a professional home inspector, it should be more than just defects that are brought to your attention. If possible, you should always plan to be present during home inspections, so you get a good understanding of how that house performs. Your inspection report is full of useful information and maintenance tips that will help you along the way. Print a copy and keep it handy, you’ll refer to it more than you think!
As you get moved into your new home, the first thing on your mind might be cosmetic improvements to the interior. Although there’s nothing wrong with that, we’ve seen that it can take attention from other aspects that require annual (sometimes seasonal) maintenance! A home inspection or evaluation doesn’t always have to be pre-sale. Consider having a professional review the home on a yearly basis and create a punch list of items that may need attention in the near future. Not only is it cost effective, but it can also help with preventing higher costs down the road.
If you have a keypad for opening the garage door, most openers have a method that allows you to change the code so it is private to you. A quick Google search of the opener manufacturer will bring you to an easy, step-by-step process. Another task to consider is replacing the existing remote openers. You can purchase universal remotes at your local retailer and program to your specific opener.
Cut back on the wear and tear of your garage’s moving parts by lubricating garage door rollers, hinges, coil spring, and opener chains at least once a year. Taking these preventative measures will extend the life of your garage door, as well as make for a quieter door when opening and closing, plus an easier manual operation of the doors.
With the winter snow melting and spring rains on the way, this is a great time to ensure that your sump system is working properly! Check the sump pit for any debris and verify that the pump is operating as it should. You’ll also want to make sure that the water is discharging well away from the foundation of your home.
There’s many home maintenance items that are easily forgotten, but so important—like keeping your dishwasher filter clean! A dirty filter significantly reduces your dishwasher’s cleaning effectiveness and may reduce the lifespan of your machine. Keeping the filter clean is essential toward getting top performance from your dishwasher and avoiding unwanted maintenance problems.
Replacing windows in your entire home can be costly. At the same time, new windows can deliver a more efficient and comfortable home. So if you’re deciding whether to repair or replace your windows, here are some quick tips to help you make the right decision.
You Should Repair Your Windows If You Notice:
You Should Replace Your Windows If You Notice:
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