By: John Allen – Sarasota FL Real Estate Broker
While the summer months offer plenty of sunshine and opportunity for enjoying the great outdoors, it is also a good time to take care of some of your home’s important maintenance needs. Today’s home buyers expect a home that is well maintained. In order to give yourself the best chance of selling your home, here is a brief maintenance checklist that you should consider completing this summer.
Maintenance Tip #1: Perform an Energy Audit
Experts estimate that homeowners can save as much as 20 percent on their heating and cooling costs by repairing gaps, cracks and leaks throughout the home. Some places to look for potential leaks include:
- The switch-plate that covers the circuit box, which can be replaced with an insulated cover
- Phone jack covers, which can be replaced with insulated covers
- Junctures where walls meet the floor, where windows meet walls and where the wires enter the home
- Mail slots
- Fireplace dampers
- Air conditioning units
- Attic doors
- Weather stripping
If you would rather have a professional conduct an energy audit, your utility company should be able to provide you with referrals.
Maintenance Tip #2: Clean and Repair Concrete
Driveways, sidewalks and patios can become dirty and grimy over time, but you can keep them looking great with the help of a power washer during the summer months. To clean up oil stains, soak the area for a half-hour with a mixture of a cup of TSP mixed with a gallon of hot water. Then, scrub the area with a stiff-bristled brush before rinsing.
If you have cracks in your concrete, you can patch them with masonry crack filler. Before injecting the filler into the cracks, make sure to clean the area thoroughly. If you have more than just cracks in need of repair, vinyl concrete patching compound will fill in the openings.
Maintenance Tip #3: Repair Asphalt
If you have asphalt instead of concrete, it is important to inspect the asphalt two or three times per year. All cracks should be repaired with asphalt patching caulk. If the cracks are left unrepaired, they will widen over time and will cause further damage. Furthermore, you should be sure to coat the asphalt with a sealer every five years.
Maintenance Tip #4: Prune and Remove Problematic Trees
Any trees hanging over your roof or rubbing against your gutters should be pruned in order to prevent damage to your home. Not only can these trees drop leaves and sticks onto your roof, but they also provide a way for rats, squirrels and other pests to get to your home. Damaged trees should also be removed in order to prevent them from falling into your home. If you are uncomfortable with pruning and removing trees, consider contacting a professional tree-care service.
Maintenance Tip #5: Mend Fences
Repairing damage as it occurs is the most cost-effective way to keep your home properly protected and secured. Before inspecting the fence, be sure to mow down the surrounding grass in order to obtain the best visibility. Then, walk the length of the fence and inspect its condition by tugging on posts and slats and looking for signs of rot. After ensuring all of the parts are properly attached and in good condition, repaint or stain any areas where the finish is cracked, thin or peeling.
There may have been no crazier idea during the boom than the negative amortization loan. Sure, the NINJA (No income, no job or assets) loans are great to laugh about even though they were a large contributor to where we are today. However, allowing a homeowner to decide how much of a payment they want to make toward their mortgage is definitely financial suicide for the banks. Effectively, if you had what would normally be a mortgage payment of $1000 per month, the bank would accept between $300 and $1000 every month. Anything short of $1000 would be added to your principal. You think you’re underwater today? Wait until next month when you’re guaranteed to be more upside down!
