House exterior
If your house is wood, inspect the paint each year and look to see if the primer is showing. Once that wears off you can damage the wood. A good rule of thumb is to repaint every 5-10 years. Doors, window trim and shutters may need a fresh coat more often.
Brick houses should be inspected for damaged bricks or masonry. Check stucco houses and repair any cracks large enough to slide a nickel into.
Roof
Watch for loose or missing shingles and clogged gutters. Asphalt shingled roofs can need replacing in as little as 15 years, wood shingles can last 30-50, metal 50+ and tile can sometimes last as long as the house does. A trusted roofer can inspect your home and give you an estimated lifespan for your roof.
Heating system
If yours has a filter, change it annually.
Air conditioning system
Change all filters monthly or as recommended by the filter manufacturer.
Asphalt and concrete driveways
Repair any cracks or buckling.
Kitchen
Brick houses should be inspected for damaged bricks or masonry. Check stucco houses and repair any cracks large enough to slide a nickel into.
Roof
Watch for loose or missing shingles and clogged gutters. Asphalt shingled roofs can need replacing in as little as 15 years, wood shingles can last 30-50, metal 50+ and tile can sometimes last as long as the house does. A trusted roofer can inspect your home and give you an estimated lifespan for your roof.
Heating system
If yours has a filter, change it annually.
Air conditioning system
Change all filters monthly or as recommended by the filter manufacturer.
Asphalt and concrete driveways
Repair any cracks or buckling.
Kitchen
Water
damage is one of a home’s worst enemies.
Check for leaks under your sink and make sure all of your plumbing is
sealed and in good condition. Repair
grout and caulking around fixtures and countertop tiles.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms
Same
here—watch for leaks and regularly check the grout on bathtubs, showers and
tiles. Check around the base of the
toilet for leaks as well. You’ll want to
replace the inner workings of your toilet every few years as well to eliminate
the possibility of it “running,” costing you on your monthly water bill.
Basement
Basement
Check
for cracks in the foundation and leaks. Buildings naturally settle over time,
and cause cracks and leaks.
Hardwood Floors
Hardwood Floors
Refinish
every 5-10 years to prevent permanent damage to the wood.
Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms
Units
should be tested every few months, and batteries changed annually.
These
are just some good rules of thumb for keeping your home in tip-top shape.
One more thing most homeowners have on their
mind right now is "How much is my home worth?"
I can answer that for you as well.
In fact, many of my clients make getting that answer part of their
annual checklist as well.
Contact me today
for a FREE comprehensive Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)!
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