Maintaining Your Home

It’s springtime y’all! Time for sundresses, pedicures, picnics, festivals and spring cleaning. I adore spring. I grew up in Virginia where it snows AND gets incredibly hot during the summer. Needless to say, spring brings me joy. It’s the time of year when we are able to get outside and really enjoy time with friends and family.

I enjoy working with homebuyers and when we first meet, one of the things I share with them is the importance of maintaining your home. You wouldn’t go an entire year without eating or exercising, right? It’s the same idea with your home. Regular maintenance can help the items in your home last longer and run more efficiently.

Here’s a quick checklist of things to do to prepare your home for spring from Houzz.com:

•          Inspect your driveway
•          Keep an eye out for termites (and other pests!)
•          Wash windows
•          Clean gutters and downspouts
•          Clean your fireplace
•          Check your sprinklers
•          Check screen doors and windows
•          Inspect the roof
•          Paint the exterior (as needed)
•          Reseal exterior woodwork
•          Schedule air-conditioning service

While you’re in the mood, spring is a great time to do some decluttering of your spaces. Open the windows, make a great playlist, and get started. 

Here’s a few seldom decluttered spaces for you to get started:

• Linen closets 
• Check your towels, sheets, cloths, etc. to make sure they do not need to be replaced. Stock your linen closet with everyday items like paper towels, toilet paper, etc.
• Under the bathroom counter and medicine cabinets
• Throw out your half used shampoos and beauty products, expired over-the-counter cold medicine, duplicates that are not able to be used.
• Pro tip: take those small samples from hotel bathrooms and donate them to a local shelter.
• Garage 
• Is your car there or is it just storage? Take a weekend and clear it out!
• Junk drawer(s)
• It’s a junk drawer, I know, but make sure you clear out old packets of condiments, old napkins, and anything you can’t identify!
• Pantry & Freezer
• Most of us clean our refrigerators fairly frequently, but we often forget to clear out our pantries and freezers. Take a look and see what’s in there that might be expired AND while you’re there, create a meal plan for this week using the items you forgot that are still good.  

One of the other things that is invaluable is maintaining a home warranty. Home warranties can help you plan for unexpected repairs. It differs from home insurance since it covers repairs to your home from wear and tear rather than from disasters. One of my favorite vendors for home warranties is onlinehsa.com. They provide excellent service and value to their customers!

Take care of yourself (and your home!) 😊