Congratulations, you're a homeowner! With homeownership comes a new list of responsibilities, including the general upkeep of the home itself. With a landlord around, you may not have paid much attention to the maintenance that goes into keeping a home in good working order. As the owner, it's up to you to care for your home to help it retain its value and be everything you hoped it would be.
If you aren't sure where to begin, don't worry! We have a list of monthly and seasonal tasks to keep you on track to give your home the TLC is deserves.
Spring
As the weather begins to warm for the year, there are a few tasks you want to add to your to-do list for the season:
- Inspect your trees: If any of your trees are not sprouting leaves the way they should in the spring, call a professional to check into it. A diseased or dead tree can become a major hazard, especially if it is close to the house.
- Gutters: The best way to manage melting snow and ice, as well as springtime showers, is to be sure your gutters are clean. A clogged gutter can cause a roof leak or water in the house, so don't procrastinate on this chore as things begin to thaw out.
- Develop a pest control plan: Springtime is the best time to prepare a pest control strategy. Before pests take over, hire a professional team and prepare to prevent infestations before they happen.
- Fertilize your lawn: Now is the time to feed your lawn, just as it wakes up from its winter nap.
Summer
During the summer, some of the tasks you should keep in mind are:
- Water your lawn and garden: Now is the time for your plants to shine! Don't forget to give them the water they need to keep your garden and lawn lush all summer.
- Check your sprinkler system: As you get into the season of using your sprinklers regularly, watch for any indication of a part that needs replacement or repair. Call a pro if you think there is a leak or another problem to avoid further damage or wasted water.
- Seal grout: Summer is a great time for indoor projects. Beat the heat while you take care of your home by sealing tile grout in your kitchen and bathroom, in the comfort of A/C.
- Check for leaks around toilets and dishwashers: Another indoor task you should tend to once a year, and why not in the summer, is checking for slow leaks around toilets and your dishwasher. If you see anything that concerns you, call a plumber. Slow leaks can turn into major problems, so don't delay.
Fall
When the air begins to turn crisp, some of the things you should do for your home include:
- Fertilize the garden: Before your garden goes to sleep for the winter, feed it one last time to help it come back just as strong next year.
- Clean the gutters: As leaves begin to fall, your gutters will need some attention. You may need to clean them multiple times throughout the fall, depending on the number and size of deciduous trees near your home.
- Check the chimney: Before you're ready to light the first fire of the season, have a professional check your chimney to be sure it's clear and safe.
- Blow out your sprinklers: Before temps drop below freezing, hire a pro to drain your in ground sprinkler systems and avoid any frozen, burst pipes over winter.
- Flush the hot water heater: Sediment buildup in your water heater can damage the appliance over time. Take this season to drain and refill the hot water heater to keep it in tip top shape.
Winter
During the winter, here are some things you can do for your home:
- Cover your A/C unit: Your air conditioning unit will last longer and work better if you cover it from the winter elements.
- Clean refrigerator and freezer coils: support the longevity of your appliances by cleaning the coils annually.
- Inspect your roof, gutters, and downspouts after storms: Winter storms can wreak havoc on your roof and gutter, and if they do you'll want to know right away to avoid escalating damage.
Monthly
There are some maintenance tasks that are best to stay on top of quite regularly. Things you should do monthly include:
- Check your furnace filter: You HVAC system will run far more efficiently if it has a clean filter. Checking this filter is quick and easy. Simply pull it from the furnace and do a visual check; you'll be able to tell when it's time to switch it out. This entails swapping out the old for the new, a task that will take you less than two minutes. Some homes won't need to change the filter every month, but it's wise to check monthly to assess the filter. You will save money and support the long term health of the system by caring for it in this quick and easy way.
- Test smoke alarms: Another quick and easy maintenance task that may pay off big time is testing your smoke alarms. Once a month, check that the alarms have fresh batteries and are in working order.
- Inspect the outside of the home: No need to hire a professional for this inspection, but a visual check of the exterior of your home each month may help you identify a small problem before it becomes something major. Look for loose roof shingles, damaged siding, cracked bricks, driveway or sidewalk cracks, insects and overgrown trees or shrubs.
If you're ready to search for a home of your how to give all this TLC to, we are ready to help! Contact our office any time to find out more about buying a home in the Palm Desert and Palm Springs real estate area.