As years go by, it’s easy to let little repairs around the house slide here and there. While they may seem minor in the beginning, small repairs can lead to big costs down the road. You can avoid this by scheduling time annually for a thorough inspection to stay up on home maintenance.
Here are a few things the experts say you should check each year:
- Search for peeling exterior paint. Touch up bare spots before the wood is damaged.
- Assess lawn and landscaping. Clear away fallen branches and leaves. Prune shrubs and trees. Apply a pre-emergent fertilizer to your grass in March for fewer weeds and a healthier lawn.
- Examine the foundation and check for cracks. Fill small cracks with caulk and check with a building contractor or structural engineer about larger ones.
- Replace batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Look for sagging gutters, loose window frames or siding, deteriorating concrete or brick, missing roof shingles or water under eaves.
- Inspect outdoor water faucets for cracks or leaks, Replace old washers, if necessary.
- Condition your deck. Hammer in loose nails and replace broken boards. Rent a power washer to clean the wood and apply an all-weather sealer or stain.
- Check your HVAC unit for leaves, pollen, sticks or any other debris. Try to remove anything that blocks air flow to the system.
- Clean the furnace filter and reduce dust build-up to help regulate temperature and decrease utility bills.
- Check plumbing for any leaks, clean faucets and shower heads for mineral build-up.