Chris Hounchell REALTOR

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Award-winning Florida real estate Broker PROUDLY SELLING IN PINELLAS, HILLSBOROUGH, PASCO, MANATEE & SARASOTA COUNTIES since 2004.

4 Home Maintenance Tasks You Shouldn’t Put Off

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Let’s face it, no one enjoys doing home maintenance. In a perfect world, your home would take care of itself and you’d never have to worry about leaks or mowing the lawn. Since we’re not living in a perfect world and the future doesn’t promise self-maintaining homes, we’re left to do the work. Preventative maintenance doesn’t need to be a huge project; in fact it can help avoid the need for a huge repair. We have four areas that you should focus on to keep your home in the best condition possible.

Roof

Since the roof is such an important part of your home, many people are intimidated by the thought of maintaining it. Roof maintenance isn’t that involved though. Keeping it free of loose debris, such as branches and leaves, is an easy task with a ladder on a dry day. You should also inspect your roof on regular intervals, once every season is best. If shingles or tiles are loose or broken, replace them before they deteriorate further and let in moisture.

4 Home Maintenance Tasks You Shouldn't Put Off

Gutters

You may not think gutters are important to your home’s overall maintenance but they are. They direct water away from your home, which protects both the appearance of your home but also its frame. Gutters, downspouts, and soffits should also be cleaned of debris as often as needed. If your downspouts are flowing away from your house this can cause water to pool around your home’s foundation and be a recipe for water damage and an invitation for insects to breed. Extensions can be purchased at any local hardware store and are easy to install.

Foundation

Another intimidating item for homeowners is the foundation. It’s literally what your home is built on so many believe it takes a professional to maintain but there are steps you can take on your own. Inspecting your foundation for any cracks often and have them repairs as soon as possible. Make sure the ground around your foundation drains away and not toward the house. Reduce expansion and contraction of your foundation by keeping the surrounding soil moisture level and your inside temperature consistent. If you have trees, large bushes, or vines near your home, make sure that the root systems are pushing towards the foundation.

Systems

No doubt you know that a home is more than just four walls and roof. All of the interior systems should be regularly inspected and maintained. These systems include your HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. Making sure filters are changed in your heater and air conditioner units allow the systems to run more efficiently and extend the life of the system. Look for small leaks in your plumbing can help you resolve a small issue before it become a nightmare. Electrical systems can affect more than just the lights in your house. Make sure your outlets and switches are in good condition, the demand your placing on your breaker is within its capacity, and your appliances are also in good working order.

As you can see these four areas cover the majority of your home. If regularly maintained, you can prevent the need for unexpected major repairs. Regular maintenance also goes a long way in securing a top dollar offer when the time comes to sell your home.

5 Things Not Included in the Home Inspection

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There’s so much more to buying a house than touring property after property until you find “The One”. Once you find the house that’s meant to be your home, you’ll need to make an offer, sign an agreement of sale, and go through the mortgage process. While some lenders and certain types of loans require a home inspection and others don’t, we always recommend Buyers to obtain a home inspection prior to closing. Most agreements of sale contain a home inspection contingency clause that allow for the contract to be voided if the inspection reports a serious defect in the property that Seller and Buyer can’t come to an agreement on repairing.

5 Things Not Included In the Home Inspection

(via Google Images under creative commons)

The home inspection is fairly comprehensive. We urge our Buyers to attend the home inspection to learn more about the inner-workings of the property and its systems. For all the thoroughness the inspector puts into each individual property, there are things not included in the home inspection. That doesn’t make these items less important nor should the exclusion of these items mean you should inspect them yourself (or by a trained professional). Below are five things not included in the home inspection that you should inspect yourself.

  1. Appliances. After-market appliances are not included in home inspections but should be tested for their working order by the Buyers. You don’t want to find out that your dryer’s timer no longer works or the refrigerator doesn’t cool as it should. Simple tests such as running the appliances during the home inspection, which can take a few hours, can be the easiest way to check the status of the items in question. Talk with your Realtor before the home inspection and coordinate with the Seller, don’t just show up with a bag of dirty laundry!
  2. Swimming pools and hot tubs. These are two popular items in Florida homes but they’re not included in a standard home inspection. Some home inspectors will offer an add-on inspection for an additional while others will recommend you contact a licensed pool contractor. Which ever avenue you decide to take, be sure that the systems are functioning properly, the concrete in and around the pool or the pool liner and other structures are in good condition. Again, an inspection is a good time to learn home to use the pool or hot tub systems.
  3. Sprinkler systems. Your soon-to-be new home may have beautiful landscaping thanks in part to a sprinkler system. Even if this was installed by the home’s builder, the home inspector still won’t include it in his or her report. Your Realtor can talk with the Seller’s agent about existing servicing agreements for the system that may include a transfer inspection or can help you locate a licensed and experienced landscaper who can inspect the system.
  4. Environmental hazards. The term “environmental hazards” can seem terrifying but the likelihood of Buyers having to combat these issues are low; however that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t investigate a property you intend to live in. The most common concerns are radon, lead, asbestos, and mold. All of the tests for these issues are easy to perform. The inspectors can vary from your home inspector performing them in conjunction with the traditional home inspection to hiring a specialized inspector. If the results don’t meet the threshold of safety as designated by the EPA or local laws, the issue can be mitigated usually at the Seller’s expense.
  5. Electronic systems. Did that full-home stereo system seal the deal for you? Or does the house have a state-of-the-art security system? That’s awesome but your home inspector isn’t going to checking these things. It’s best to hire an electrician, experienced professional, or the servicing company to inspect the system in question.

It may seem like your home inspector is overlooking a large portion of your potential new home, the truth is he or she is concerned with the guts of the house. All of these items are considered the “bells and whistles” and while you don’t need them to make a house, it certainly makes for a more comfortable home. It’s also best to spend a small amount of money for an inspection ahead of time to avoid spending a large amount of money in repairs shortly after buying. You may not need all of these items inspected either, if the Seller has a current servicing contract or warranty, you and your Realtor should investigate if it can be transferred to you as the new home owner.

Spring Clean Your Landscape

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While the rest of the country may still be buried under all of that snow, spring is quickly finding it’s way back to Florida.  Regardless if you’re attempting to sell your home or not, you’ll want your landscaping to present a maintained look.  Not only does a maintained lawn look nice it is also a sign to intruders that someone lives in the property and your home isn’t an easy target for break-ins and thefts.  Keeping clutter at bay and pruned lawns, trees, and bushes will also help repel other unwanted visitors like rodents, snakes, and bugs that can get into your home and cause serious damages.

Clear the clutter.

The first thing to do when you spring clean your landscape is to remove all the debris that’s built up over the winter months.  Litter, fallen leaves, and dead plants and weeds from last season should be collected and disposed.  Now is a perfect time to look around your property and get rid of any pieces of outdoor furniture that is broken or you will no longer use.  If you have a shed or other outbuilding, check around it to see if there are any scrap materials that need to be trashed as well.

Raking your lawn is also recommended to help remove thatch build up.  Bushes and trees should be pruned back.  Bushes should stay clear of windows and entryways both for aesthetics and safety.  Any branches that have suffered damage through the winter should be pruned.  Branches that hang over any part of the house, a sidewalk, or a fence should be cut back to prevent damage should they fall down.  If a branch is especially large or high or the entire tree needs to be removed, we recommend you higher a professional arborist to handle the task.

Make it effortless.

No one wants to be out in their garden all spring and summer pulling weeds.  To keep your planting beds weed free lay down landscape fabric.  (Experts advise against landscape fabric in vegetable/fruit beds.)  Native plants such as leather ferns, century plants, and blue stem grass can fill your beds and require minimal assistance to survive in the Floridan climate.  Adding mulch around your bushes, plants, and flowers will help keep moisture in the soil, weeds out, and provide an attractive finish to your beds.  Professional landscapers recommend mulch be spread to a depth of at least two inches and replaced at least twice a year.

Spring Clean Your Landscaping

Have the right tools.

Spring is also the perfect time to have your irrigation system checked if you have one.   Look for and replace missing or broken spray heads.  Check to make sure all spray heads fully clear the ground when turned on and retract completely after the system has been turned off.  Make sure the water pressure is correct and the spray heads point to the grass or bushes and not onto sidewalks or the house.  Most systems come complete with the ability to program when the system turns on and off.  Refer to your local ordinances for water conservation and schedule your system accordingly, the best time to water is in the evening.

Inspect your lawnmower and any other equipment you plan to use to keep your lawn trimmed.  Clean out the undercarriage of the mower.  Gasoline powered motors are much like your car’s engine and require regular maintenance.  Make sure the oil level is adequate and the air filter is clean.  Experts suggest that the spark plug be replaced every year to ensure a swift start-up.  The mower blade needs to remain sharp for an easy cut and healthy grass.  It’s recommended that you take the blade to a local hardware or landscape store to have it sharpened for a nominal fee.  Your blades should also be adjusted to keep your grass at a height of 2-1/2 to 3 1/2 inches.

Much like our fall home maintenance tips, these tasks can be tackled over one weekend, cost very little to complete, and the results will pay off for the rest of your spring and summer.

Fall Home Maintenance

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Changing seasons is a perfect time to inspect your home and address some of its larger maintenance needs.  Don’t stress though all of the items listed below are ones that you can take care of yourself in just a few hours during the weekend and tools you already have in your possession.

Roof.  Find a sturdy ladder and climb up on your roof to give it a good inspection. You want to make sure there are no loose or broken shingles, if there are replace them.  Check the chalking around the chimney and vents; any dry, cracked, or missing chalk should be replaced.  Check to make sure the screen over your chimney is secure and if you don’t have one get one immediately to prevent small animals from making a home out of your home.

Gutters.  While you’re on the roof, give your gutters a once over.  Remove any leaves or debris. That build up over the winter can prevent rain water from draining properly.  Make sure your gutters are also secured.  If you’re feeling ambitious, you can install gutter guards to help keep the debris out.  You can find gutter guards at your local hardware store.

Landscaping. Remove any debris and dead plants from your flower beds and yard. Rake leaves from your yard and dispose of them according to your local government’s laws. Inspect remaining plants, flowers, bushes,Autumn flower bed and trees for signs of disease or severe damage. Trim back bushes and trees. Add new mulch to your flower beds and around trees. Add new plants that are currently in season and plant perennials.

Windows.  Take a look at your windows from both inside and outside.  Repair any tears in the screens and replace any weather stripping that is dry rotted, broken, or missing.  Make sure your windows open and close smoothly and the locks are in working order.  Properly secure any shutters.

Paint. Take a walk around your home and look for any peeling paint or stains.  For peeling paint, sand the area and repaint, two coats should be more than enough.  For stains first try a solution of warm water and dish soap and scrub the affected area with a scrub brush.  If that doesn’t work or the area is too big, try pressure washing.  If all else fails you can repaint the area.  If you’ve been putting off painting the exterior, the cooler fall weather is the perfect time to do it.

Fire and Carbon monoxide Safety.  You should test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every month.  Smoke detectorTake the time at least twice a year to clean the units using the crevice attachment on your vacuum cleaner and replace the batteries, even if the detector is hardwired.  Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors save lives.

 

All of these projects take very little time and money to complete but will keep you and your family safe and your home running as efficiently as possible throughout the winter months.