With spring just around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to go over a couple of homeowner to-dos as the days grow longer. Not only will these quick and easy tasks save you some money, they will also help extended the life of your home.
Change batteries on smoke and CO2detectors
It is always a good idea to press each smoke detector to ensure they’re in good working order. Going through all the fire safety features in your home will also provide a great time to review your fire plan with the family. The NFPA has a great resource about family fire safety plans found here.
Gutter Maintenance
Clear out the gutters of leaves and debris that deposited during the winter months. While on the ladder make sure to check for corrosion, joint separation, and loose fasteners.
Pressure Wash
Pressure wash the home to remove accumulated dust, grime, mold, and stains. You can rent a pressure washer for $40 to $75 a day or hire help for 8 to 80 cents per square foot, according to CostHelper.com, depending on the size of the home and the amount of cleaning required. Just as a reminder: incorrectly using the pressure washer could potentially ruin the siding.
Preparing the yard
Sharpening the mover blades should be a twice yearly activity. Dull mower blades tear the grass blade instead of cutting it, opening the plant up to stress-related diseases and stunting its growth. Along with sharpening the blades, it’s always a good idea to start the spring growing season with a fresh oil change and a new spark plug. Spring is probably the most important season for grass care, as the efforts you put in now will pay dividends until winter. While different locations have specific laws regarding fertilizers and pesticides, it’s always good practice to start with a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen (the first of the three numbers on the bag e.g. 20-10-0) and choose a fertilizer with pre-emergent herbicide for weed suppression. Talk to your local nursery for correct timing of fertilizer for your specific area.
Change the thermostat
In colder climates, we tend to keep the thermostat at a warmer level in winter than in the summer. Resetting the thermostat for both the season change as well as the daylight savings will ensure that your furnace and A/C are running at the appropriate times and not wasting your money.
With just a few items added to your weekend to-do list, you can enter the summer months ready to relax knowing that your home set for some fun in the sun. If you had so much fun completing these to-dos and wanted some more, here are a couple of other spring checklists:
http://www.kiplinger.com/printslideshow.php?pid=10259
http://www.bobvila.com/articles/2355-spring-home-maintenance-checklist/
Happy housing from your favorite Realtor.This article was originally posted on Tulicious.com
