Are you counting down the days to spring? Your house may be as well! Why not use the time to survey what needs to be done to keep your house in working order? You may just prevent potentially serious issues and home insurance claims.
Your house has probably taken on more dust and debris than you think. Take the time to vacuum your air registers. The same goes for cleaning out your clothes dryer vent and changing your furnace filters.
Look over your shower and bathtub areas to make sure they are still caulked properly. If you find your caulk gaping, cracking, or peeling, clean it and reseal it with new caulk. The same goes for grout in your tile entries or kitchen.
Inspect those parts of your house that keep you safe: your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Do they need new batteries? Look over your windows. You might have to put off cleaning your windows, at least on the outside, but are your screens still in working order or should they be replaced? Make sure any attic fans and sump pumps are also working properly. Take the time to schedule an appointment to have your air conditioning checked. Don’t wait until that first hot day of spring!
If you’re able to get outside, check whether your gutters are still secure and clean. Check to make sure the ground near your foundation is sloping away from your home to properly drain water. If not, you may need to regrade or fill in with extra soil.
If they’re not covered in snow, take a look at your driveway and walkways. Look for any cracks that should be repaired or resealed before next winter. Are there any trees or branches that need to be trimmed away from power lines? Do you need to replace shingles or tiles on your roof? These jobs may have to wait until warmer weather, but at least you can start making a list.
Next time that utility bill comes in the mail, look at your current usage versus the same month in previous years. You can’t change what you’ve already used, but you can prepare for the future. Any unexplained spikes in usage might tell you an appliance needs to be repaired or replaced.
You may need to hire a professional for some of the work, but a thorough survey will help you know what you’re dealing with.
