|
Take Care of
Your Home Before It Takes Care of You
Being
organized isn’t only about getting your things
in order. It is also just as important to keep
track of those things, whether it’s the contents
of your home or the home itself.
This article
will help you determine what you need to keep
track of, and how to maintain records on your
home. From simple repairs to major renovations,
it is vital to know what is going on inside your
home—especially behind the walls—so costly
emergencies don’t take you to the bank.
Here are some
tasks you should perform on a regular basis to
maintain a healthy home.
OUTSIDE THE HOME
Once a Year
·
Take your lawn mower in for servicing before the spring
·
Take your snowblower in for servicing before winter
·
Have your snow mobile serviced before winter
·
Have boat serviced for the season
·
Take bicycles in for servicing
·
Seal deck, nail down loose boards
·
Give patio furniture a thorough cleaning before/after storing
·
Take hazardous waste to a collection agency near your home
·
Make sure your garage door auto-retractor works properly
·
Clean your barbecue grill thoroughly
·
Drain hoses for the winter and store in your garage or shed
·
Cover plants for winter
·
Have asphalt driveway sealed
·
Tuckpoint any crumbling mortar on your home
Twice a Year
·
Check roof for broken/missing shingles
·
Clean out gutters from spring/fall debris
·
Clean up your yard in spring and fall
·
Check foundation for cracks
·
Have your pool opened in the spring and closed in the fall
·
Have your sprinkler system opened in the spring and closed in the fall
·
Have cars serviced for upcoming seasons
·
Check tire pressure in cars, bikes, etc.
·
Take down/install storm windows for the seasons—have any broken windows
and screens repaired
·
Fertilize the lawn
·
Trim branches away from the house, remove dead branches
·
Have your septic tank drained and cleaned as necessary
Monthly
·
Fill your car up with windshield wiper fluid
INSIDE THE HOME
Once a Year
·
Drain the water in your hot water heater
·
Have fireplace/chimney cleaned
·
Have central vacuum serviced
·
Have insurance policies reviewed (Are they still the best for you? Has
your life or home changed in the last year?)
·
Have investment accounts reviewed
·
Go through home and tighten screws, handles, etc.
·
Make sure all light switches and outlets are functioning properly
·
Check function of battery back-up unit for sump pump
·
Have air ducts cleaned every 2-4 years unless there are allergy
sufferers in your home, or if you’ve done
construction
·
Check attic and basement for signs of insect or rodent infestation
Twice a Year
·
Launder pillows and comforters at least twice a year, if not four times
a year, to deter dust mites
·
Flip the mattresses on your beds
·
Change the filter on your water purification unit (more often for heavy
usage)
·
Change the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide
detector
·
Have your furnace serviced in spring and fall before the extreme
weather sets in
·
Purge old cleaning supplies you haven’t used in a while—dispose of
properly
·
Pull appliances away from the walls and dust behind and sweep under
them
·
Go through medicine cabinet for old/expired medications
·
Clean drains in sinks, bathtubs and showers
·
Check weather stripping around doors and windows
·
Clean out dryer’s exhaust vent
Monthly
·
Look through your pantry, refrigerator and freezer for old/expired food
·
Back up the files on your computer
·
Update computer ‘s anti-virus software
·
Replace air filter on furnace
·
Vacuum lint collection area of dryer, wash the screen in hot, sudsy
water
THOSE THINGS YOU CAN’T SEE
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to catch everything before
it becomes a problem. First of all, it might be
hidden behind the walls. Second, you are not a
trained professional in the field. The good
news is, you don’t have to wait until you buy or
sell a home before having it inspected. A Home
Inspector will do a thorough examination of your
home with his/her trained eye. He can also test
any mold to see if it is a harmful strain, and
can test for radon (an odorless gas). He should
also see problems you might not catch, such as
plumbing, wiring and insect or rodent
infestation. As a trained professional, he will
know what signs to look for, that you may
dismiss as insignificant. Don’t make a costly
mistake. An inspector is worth the investment,
even if he doesn’t find anything. You’ll at
least have peace of mind.
KEEPING TRACK
So how do you remember what to do, and when it should be
done? And how do you keep track of what you’ve
done? The easiest way is to create your own
home repair folder or binder.
Print out monthly calendars. Use red ink to record those
things you should do for the month, like drain
the hot water heater. Use black ink to record
any repairs done on the home.
Keep receipts and warranties in this folder or binder. You
can separate your receipts by category if you
wish. For example, have a section for Inside
(then subcategories for appliances, structure,
etc.), and one for Outside (with subcategories
for yard, buildings, auto, etc.).
You can keep business cards for companies you have used
either in this folder or a separate box. Make a
record of any companies that did an
exceptionally well (or poor) job, so you know
whether or not to use them again.
Just as you
take your children to the doctor when they are
young, and you go for your annual check-up, so
too, must you perform regular maintenance and
check-ups on your home. An annual physical exam
can detect a disease early, and keep it from
getting serious or costly. Early detection of a
leaky pipe or cracked foundation can help
prevent serious problems and costly repairs
also. So stay ahead of the game by watching
your home carefully, and practicing regular
maintenance.
|
