Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
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Real estate markets are slowly getting better, but we should emphasize the word slowly here. It’s going to be a long while before things get to normal. In the mean time, while we’re waiting for prices to pick up, the majority of homeowners are likely going to have to stay put for the time being. Which makes it all the more important that we keep up with our household maintenance and enjoy the benefits, while waiting for the better times to come.
The best way to approach household maintenance is of course, to do a little bit each month. This way we can keep things manageable and won’t find ourselves overwhelmed when things start falling apart all around us.
Winter is actually a rather quiet time as far as household maintenance goes, as it’s often too cold to do many of the necessary chores, but we can do some things in preparation for winter. Clean out those gutters before the rains start in earnest this spring. It’s also a good idea to check the roof as well – look for missing or cracked tiles that need replacing, check the chimney if you have one, and trim any overhanging branches from nearby trees to prevent damage.
Clean out those gutters before winter arrives © rekemp - Fotolia.com
As spring approaches, now might be a good time to check if there are any water leaks in your system. There’s actually no reason why we should do it at the beginning of spring, but of course it does have to be done some time. Turn off the water mains and wait for an hour. Check the meter to see if the readings have changed. If they have, it means you have a leak somewhere that needs fixing.
Once things start to warm up a bit outside, now’s the time to spruce things up in preparation for summer. Get that paint brush out and start touching up the exterior. While you’re at it, look for any cracks or dings in the stucco, fascia and so on. Wash the curtains and the blinds, so that from the outside at least, everything looks as it should.
As things hot up in the summer, we’ll want to be spending more time outdoors. Do so, and don’t forget to check the driveway, the garden gate, the walkways and the pool for any cracks or damage. Patch up any cracks and don’t forget to open up those windows to let some fresh air in the house. While you’re at it, you can check the windows too – and replace the caulk wherever it needs doing. Note that now’s the time when the air-con is probably working full blast, so you’ll want to have that serviced to make sure it’s in good working order.
Summer is the perfect time for jobs like this one © gmcgill - Fotolia.com
With summer drawing to a close, you should be getting ready to spend the next few months cooped up indoors. So it makes sense to schedule a check up for your heating system, and you may as well do the water heater while you’re at it. You’ll also want to make sure everything is as safe as can be. This means replacing the batteries in your alarm systems – burglar alarms, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Don’t have any? Then get some – experts advise that at a minimum, each bedroom should have both of these.
Take steps to defend your home too – as the temperature cools, your warm and cozy home becomes an inviting place for all kinds of unwanted guests, the worst of which are rats and mice. Make sure there is nowhere they can sneak in - they can get in through incredibly small gaps, and once in they can be very difficult to get rid of.
Great maintenance tips for homeowners. Taking a look at the gutters is a good idea for spring. I would suggest to homeowners that are looking to sell soon that they consider the current state of the market. There are definitely options for those looking to sell a home fast though.