Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

Winter weather can be especially taxing on the exterior of a house, lawn, and a home's distribution and mechanical systems. Now that winter's waning, with days getting longer, it's time to conduct your semi-annual home checkup.

Savvy homeowners will want to take pro-active steps to tackle deferred and routine maintenance now, in ample time to enjoy the upcoming Spring and Summer seasons.

READ ON FOR 10 TIPS from licensed real estate broker, Troy Grimes, of Troy Grimes Realty LLC that will improve your home's overall curb appeal, and provide assurance that critical systems will continue performing at normal capacity. Coincidentally, many of these same steps are recommended for would be home sellers who plan to market their homes over the coming months. Some maintenance items can be tackled as DIY, weekend warrior projects, while other tasks require the help of professional, licensed service providers.

Here's the recommended TOP 10 checklist for Spring home maintenance.

Tip #1 - Perform exterior home inspection

Inspect the home's roof, windows, chimney, and gutters for any damage from winter storms. Make any needed repairs. Clean debris from gutters. Not comfortable climbing a ladder and walking a roof? Look for water stains on the ceiling inside the home or in the attic just below the roof line. Use binoculars to look for roof damage from the ground. A roofing contractor can be consulted for a closer examination of any concerns, such as loose or missing shingles, or dislocated ridge vent.

Tip #2 - Examine boards and paint

Replace, then paint any decaying exterior boards, including decking boards, fencing, and hand railings. Add weather resistant caulk as needed to prevent water intrusion. Re-attach or replace loose or missing vinyl siding.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Completing routine home maintenance tasks will reduce likelihood of incurring costlier repairs down the road, while also protecting your real estate investment.

Tip #3 - Pressure wash

Spring is a good time to power wash your home's exterior. In addition to siding, this includes porches, concrete sidewalks, driveways, patios, and vinyl fencing. Hand wash outdoor furniture.

Tip #4 - Lawn maintenance

Desire healthy, greener grass, and less of those pesky weeds? Apply weed 'n feed fertilizer in advance of the Spring showers. Freshen up flower beds. Trim and remove low-hanging, dormant or dead limbs from trees, especially those close to the home. (Note: For more in depth pruning, consult a tree surgeon or arborist, as many experts recommend pruning just after the tree or plant's growing/blooming season passes.)

Tip #5 - Review lawn & garden tools, grills, pools

Inspect, clean, and perform Spring maintenance on lawn tools and grills. This includes lawn mowers blades; gas-powered and electric blowers; charcoal and propane grills for outdoor cooking, etc. Does your LP tank need refilling in advance of the upcoming BBQ season? Replace tools and grills that are rusty and unsafe. Repair or replace outdoor furniture. Hot tub or pools anyone? Prepare now to open those for the season.

Tip #6 - Get a termite inspection

Hire a licensed pest control company to inspect the home for termites or other wood destroying insects. Termites routinely swarm in early Spring. An annual termite inspection can help detect presence of termites before significant damage to a home's wood structures occurs. Many pest control companies offer annual maintenance plans that include moisture control measures in damp basements and crawl spaces where termites often congregate and thrive.

Tip #7 - Spring AC checkup

Hire a qualified HVAC technician for spring tune-up, especially if the summer gets hot where you live. Proactive maintenance goes a long ways in preventing total system failure, emergency service calls, and costlier repairs during the heat of the summer. Most HVAC companies offer semi-annual tune-ups on a contractual basis, with expedited service calls and preferred pricing for repeat clients. Replace dirty filters in returns minimally once per quarter.

Tip #8 - Plumbing and septic

Perform a home-wide plumbing and septic checkup. Unclog drains. Repair or replace leaky pipes, toilets, and faucets, including exterior hose bibs. Clean kitchen garbage disposal if applicable. Inspect water connections and lines leading to/from automatic dishwasher; clothes washing machine; kitchen fridge. Professional inspection and pumping is recommended minimally once every 3 years for private, onsite septic systems. Samples of water in private wells should be collected and inspected for potable quality on an annual basis.

Tip #9 - Spring cleaning and purging

Where to start with your inside Spring cleaning? Start by hand washing windows inside/out. Declutter your home. Out with the old, before adding new! This includes cleaning and re-organizing cupboards and closets. Sell, donate, or discard unwanted items. A good rule of thumb for clothing that hasn't been worn in over a year most likely needs to go! Discard any cardboard accumulated from recent deliveries.

Tip #10 - REALTOR® check-in

Need professional service providers to assist with the tasks at hand? Contact your trusted local REALTOR® for referrals.

Prepare Your Home Now for the Spring and Summer Months

Complete your Spring home maintenance checklist now. Then beam with pride, as you sit back and relax when the weather improves. Contemplating your next real estate move? Reach out to Troy Grimes Realty LLC to discuss your next steps: https://www.showandsellraleighhomes.com/

What's your favorite season of the year? Leave a comment below the blog.

---

About the Author: Troy Grimes is an actively licensed NC real estate broker, and the principal Member-Manager, and Broker-in-Charge, of Troy Grimes Realty LLC. His firm specializes in general brokerage home sales in the greater Raleigh, NC region and surrounding areas. An alumnus of East Carolina University, with a background in luxury retail sales, Troy's recent blogs offer expert editorials on the housing market, consumer behaviors, and related anecdotes. You may follow or connect with Troy on social media including LinkedIn, Facebook & Instagram @TroyGrimesREALTOR, or email him directly at homes@troygrimes.com

---