So, you’re planning to sell your house in the next few months…
Perhaps you just want to be a good, responsible homeowner who takes great care of your home…
Either way, these maintenance tips can save you money in the long run, or help you get top dollar for your house in the next few months.
1) Have your furnace serviced and cleaned. It is much easier to get a service person out to your house in the off-season. Also, with the supply chain issues that we’ve seen in the last couple years you don’t want a furnace breakdown in the Winter cold.
2) Clean your roof and gutters. You may need to do this one again later in the Fall as well. However, if your roof or gutters need any maintenance, it is far easier to get that taken care of now than just after a storm.
3) Check your batteries in the smoke detectors and in your carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. If you don’t have a CO detector, you probably should get one or two depending on the floorplan of your house. Washington State Law now requires one on each floor, near the bedrooms of every house sold in the State, even if you don’t have natural gas or propane systems in your house.
4) Have your chimney inspected and cleaned.
5) Prune trees and bushes. It is best to have at least a three foot gap between your house and anything that grows in the ground. This helps prevent moisture from being trapped against your house, which can lead to rot, bugs and other problems. If you have exposed power lines, they need a reasonable gap as well.
6) Remove fallen leaves before they get too wet. Leaves on the ground can hurt your lawn and are a great house for bugs.
7) Pressure wash your concrete driveways and walkways. If you have any moss, dirt, or other buildup on your concrete it is better to be outside with a hose/pressure washer now than after someone might slip and fall on the slick wet surface over the Winter.
8) Clean your dryer vents. Lint buildup can cause your dryer to work less efficiently and can even lead to fire. Cleaning your dryer vents will save drying time and money.
Enjoy the rest of your Summer! This great weather is the perfect time for preparing for the Fall.
