January 2018 Home Maintenance Tips
January 2018 Home Maintenance Tips
January 2018 Home Maintenance Tips
Happy New Year! Wow…it is 2018?! Time flies when you’re completing your monthly home maintenance tasks, right?! I know this cold weather we’ve had lately doesn’t really bring up thoughts of the ole “honey do” list. However, it’s a new year and a fresh start and the best time to catch up on maintenance is always now. Check out this month’s to do list:
- SAVE THE PLANTS!— It may already be too late with the freezing temps lately, but if any of your plants are outside and have survived, give them some warmth. Bring any potted plants indoors or to the garage so they have a fighting chance to live to see spring. It’s also a smart idea to have a few blankets, plastic wrap or towels ready for your most delicate in-ground plants, in case we have more freezing weather.
- INTERIOR REFRESH— This is the perfect weather… to stay inside. Since you are more than likely spending more time inside to escape Mr. Winter, might as well put the time to good use by getting an inside project done. Painting walls or repainting woodwork are both great cold weather projects that don’t take too much time but offer a fun updated look. Another indoor project during cold weather is appliance maintenance!!! Yes, I added extra punctuation to make it sound fun. Seriously though, appliances don’t get cleaned as often as they should. Give your appliances a deep clean, including the refrigerator coils and dryer vent.
- BEEPIN ME CRAZY – What is the most annoying sound in the world? You guessed right…a beeping smoke detector! Before the insanity inducing beeps begin, test the batteries in your smoke detector and if needed, change them out. While you’ve got the batteries out, give the remote a fresh battery too!
- WINTER IS COMING (AGAIN)—Assuming you haven’t done this already (and if you haven’t, it’s probably a miracle you didn’t have a busted pipe last week), drain and disconnect your garden hoses and wrap/insulate all exterior pipes and install faucet covers to protect your spigots.
- FILTER CHANGE— Last, but easiest! This is a 2 minute fix! Yes! Change out your HVAC air filter. It will help your system run more efficiently and save you some money
If your New Year’s resolution was to get more “honey do’s” done, don’t worry, I’ve got ya covered. You’ll be a home maintenance master in no time! Cheers to a fantastic and well maintained 2018!
Lisa E. Priest is still trying to date things as “2017” and is an East Texas Area Broker/REALTOR® with Picket Fence Realty, Inc. You can reach her via phone or text at 903-948-3343 or read more at BuyPalestine.com.
