Did Your Home Take a Beating this Winter?

This winter’s severe weather has taken a toll on our homes. Here are some tips from local realtor Lou Cardillo to help you assess your property and start to get ready for spring.

1. Gutters and roofing -- The heavy snow and ice can take a toll on your gutters and roofing. With spring flowers, comes rains showers! To ensure you are ready, make sure to clean out your gutters of any clutter and inspect your roofing for areas that need to be resealed.

2. Doors and windows -- Inspect the seals around your doors and windows to make sure that the cold weather hasn’t separated them from the frame. It is also a good time to clean your windows, drapes and blinds from the dirt that old man winter has left behind.

3. Ventilation and air conditioning -- Now is a good time to remove and clean your air conditioning or ventilation filter. You should also change the direction of your ceiling fan. In the summer you want your ceiling fans to blow air down to provide a nice cool breeze. It is also a good idea, on the first warm day, to open all the windows in your home to help get rid of any toxins that have built up from winter heating and cooking.

4. Rugs and carpeting -- With winter comes heavy sand and salt on the roadways and walkways. Rent or hire a professional carpet cleaner to remove all that salt, sand and dirt from your carpets and area rugs.

5. Outdoor space and landscaping -- It’s time to clean your outdoor furniture and stock the grill with a fresh propane tank.

6. Bugs and insects -- Unfortunately as the weather warms up, the bugs come out. Make sure you use airtight containers to store food, clean up and rinse out dishes and glasses immediately after use and make sure your trash cans are properly sealed. It’s also a good time to stock up on bug spray!

7. Tag sales and donating -- This is the best time to clean out your closets, home office, basement and garage. Compile everything you no longer need and host a tag sale to make a few extra bucks and get rid of clutter. Anything you don’t sell at the tag sale can be donated to a local charity.

Lou Cardillo is the broker/owner of Keller Williams Realty Partners and the Lou Cardillo Home Selling Team in Yorktown Heights, NY.

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