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Its that time again… The leaves are falling, there is a chill in the air.  Winter is approaching quickly.  Before we break out the holiday décor there are a few home maintenance things that need to be done first.

Annual Exterior Maintenance:

• Exterior maintenance is about keeping your home safe and keeping pests and water out of your home.
• Have your roof inspected for damage, missing shingles or panels, and leaks.
• Check for damaged or loose siding.
• Have your home inspected for termites.
• Have basement or crawlspace insulation and the crawlspace moisture barrier checked.
• Have your heating and cooling units inspected and cleaned.
• Make sure your gutters are working properly.
• Check your foundation for cracks.
• Inspect the door and window weatherstripping and caulk, replacing as necessary.
• Inspect your deck and fencing for damage and address any problems.
• Clean and seal any wood decks or fencing.
• Touch up exterior paint.
• Clean and seal your driveway.
• Keep up with lawn and garden maintenance.

Annual Interior Maintenance:

• Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and check expiration dates.
• Check your fire extinguishers to ensure they’re charged and not past the expiration date.
• Clean your dryer exhaust vent.
• Test the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets. You’ll likely have some outdoors, so test those as well.
• If you haven’t been keeping up with air filter replacement, replace the filters now.
• Flush your water heater to remove sediment. If you have hard water, plan to do this at least twice a year.
• Inspect your walls and ceilings for stains or peeled paint that could indicate leaks.
• Have your attic insulation checked.
• Check your pipe insulation if you live in an area where frozen pipes are a concern.
• Check water supply lines for appliances, toilets and faucets, and test operation of the shutoff valves.
• Clean your refrigerator coils.
• Deep clean your carpets.

Now that that’s done, bring on the holidays!

Happy Maintaining!

Evduza Ramaj,

Inside Realty