Property Values and Fall Home Maintenance

Fall is a popular and ideal time for home maintenance. It can also be daunting for many homeowners to think about seasonal projects that help keep up property values.

Roof. The importance of a secure roof can’t be stressed enough. Roofing issues can be complicated and expensive to fix when allowed to linger too long. Simply walking your property and looking for any obvious problems before the weather prohibits repair is always a good idea. If a problem is discovered, have your roof inspected by a professional as soon as possible.

Windows and doors. Don’t wait until it’s too cold out to realize how much air drafts can hike up heating bills. Seal leaky windows with spray foam, caulk or weather stripping. A tip to make sure your weather stripping is doing its job: close your door/window and guide a lit candle along the stripping. If the flame flickers at any point, you know you have an air leak.

Gutters and downspouts. Gutters are your roofs drainage system. Gutters account for thousands of gallons of water being diverted from your homes exterior and foundation. A pile of debris in your gutters can mean water in your basement. Inspect and clean and consider a mesh guard to keep debris out.

Lawn health. If leaves are left on the yard for extended periods of time, they can kill the grass. To keep lawns and soil healthy, mulch the leaves and spread them around.

Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers: ensuring your smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are functioning correctly isn’t seasonal. It’s always a good idea to keep close tabs on them, but we couldn’t leave this off the list! The American Red Cross will help you, or better yet, volunteer in your neighborhood and learn from the experts - http://www.redcross.org/local/washington-dc/volunteer/smoke-alarm-installations

General cleanup around the property. Make a list that includes trimming overhanging branches; recycling old newspapers; securing and storing flammable and poisonous chemicals in safe, approved containers; clearing spaces around heaters, furnaces and other heating appliances; storing or covering porch furniture and barbecues; and removing dirt from empty pots and planters and storing upside down.

What is on your fall clean up list? Share your tips in the comments below.

www.livecapitolhilldc.com