Maintenance Schedules for the New Homeowner

With homeownership comes an abundance of benefits; however, what’s often touted as one of the drawbacks is the fact that your home’s maintenance will no longer be the responsibility of a landlord. Still, owning your own home is fun. Gone are the days when you would have to worry about putting too many holes in the walls, painting your bedroom, or telling the upstairs neighbors to keep it down—in essence, your new property is yours to do with as you please; however, along with this freedom comes a few upkeep responsibilities.

Much like owning a car, home maintenance is important because it protects your investment, so as a new homeowner, make a point to create a schedule of rotating tasks that can be completed throughout the year. Therefore, to help you along the way, I’ve created a list of the most important maintenance jobs and their yearly timeline for completion.

1.) CAULK WINDOWS AND TRIM—Since caulk won’t stick to moist surfaces, this project should be completed in the fall. To start, walk around the interior and exterior of your home looking for cracks in the trim around the windows, in the corners where the trim comes together, and in your siding. Fill all cracks with caulk.

2.) LOOK FOR WATER IN YOUR CRAWL SPACE—This is another project that is great to complete during the fall; however, you’ll want to make sure it’s done after a period of rain so that if water accumulates, you’ll be able to see it. If you’re unsure of where your crawlspace is located, walk around your home and look for a boarded opening in your foundation. If you’re still not sure or fear tight spaces, call a home inspector for assistance.

3.) IS THERE MOISTURE IN YOUR WOODEN DECK?—Obviously, this is not an issue if your home has a deck made of synthetic products; however, wooden decks need to be protected from water damage with a deck treatment or wood stain. Therefore, this task works best in dry, warm weather when a moisture meter will be able to read whether water has penetrated the wood. If you are unsure of where to find this type of meter, most paint stores will let you borrow one and if you wind up needing to refinish your deck, they will also be able to help you select the best treatment option.

4.) INSPECT AND TOUCH UP EXTERIOR PAINT—Yes, when it comes to making your home look presentable, paint goes a long way; however, it’s not simply about aesthetics. Plain and simple, paint is a mechanism used to prevent damage—it prevents gutters from rusting and wood from rotting—so it’s important to take a bit of time during the dry summer months to look for paint that has blistered, bubbled, peeled, or cracked. While it’s incredibly possible to remedy any issues on your own, if you’re unsure of where to begin, consider the expertise of a knowledgeable painter.

5.) DON’T NEGLECT YOUR FURNACE—Furnaces represent one of those wonderful, generally reliable appliances that are easy to take for granted unless a problem arises; however, just because they don’t require your constant attention, doesn’t mean that a downgrade in efficiency should be ignored. While frightening, it’s important to note that a breakdown in furnace function or structure can actually cause a deadly carbon monoxide leak, so servicing it on a yearly basis is crucial. You can start by either calling the company who installed it or, if it’s easier, contacting a reputable HVAC specialist who can clean all of the furnace parts, lubricate the bearings, and run tests to make sure there are no leaking gases.

6.) HIRE A CHIMNEY SWEEP!—Sure, they’re not generally called that anymore, but homes with wood-burning fireplaces need yearly inspections by licensed gas technicians who can remove accumulated dust and dirt, while also checking for leaks, worn out parts, and proper chimney orientation. Clogged chimneys can be extremely dangerous, so it’s important to look for a company that has a great reputation and carries liability insurance.

Also, note that chimneys made of brick, stone, or other types of masonry need to be sealed every three years or so (especially in colder climates).

7.) CHECK BATHTUB CAULK—No one wants a bath leak, especially when it’s over one of the main rooms in the downstairs area of your home. To avoid this type of problem, inspect the line of caulk that seals your tub to the floor and the tub surround. If you notice any areas of concern, simply seal them with a polyurethane bathroom caulk.

In the end, there are actually a handful of other household maintenance tasks that will need your attention throughout the year, but you’ll have to wait until next week’s blog to learn more. For the time being, while many of these things may leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed or seeing dollar signs, try not to lose sight of the fact that maintenance is a vital preventative measure that can literally save you thousands in the long-run. No one wants to find themselves on the receiving end of rotting walls from ineffective window caulking or clogged gutters, especially if you know that you’d eventually like to place your home on the market. Things like mold and water damage are not something you want to discover through an inspector during the closing process, so stick to a maintenance schedule now and avoid the pain of lost money later.

Pam Evans | Hello Pam Evans Real Estate | www.hellopamevans.com | 678-778-6551