July House Maintenance “Honey Do List”
July House Maintenance “Honey Do List”
Well, it is officially a bagillion degrees. It seems like the heat hit overnight and when it showed up, it showed up in force! I know it’s sweltering and all you want to do is eat snowcones (I’m right there with a!), but keep your home in prime summer shape with these maintenance tips:
- No Water Please! – Check underneath your sinks for hidden leaks. Another place to check on your leak search is the washer hose connection. Sometimes the view of the connection is obstructed so you may not see a leak until it is too late. If you do have a leak, get it repaired quickly—water is not your BFF unless it involves a float and a pool.
- Wood Inspection – Check out your fence for loose boards, rotted posts or any other damage and make any repairs needed. Be sure that any damage is not from wood destroying insects. If termites are present, get it treated immediately—they won’t stop eating until treated. Time needed: possibly a few hours depending on how much repair is needed.
- No Clogs! – Your air conditioner is doing full-time duty right now, so make sure it is at peak performance. Change the AC vent monthly before it is too gummed up to operate efficiently.
- Remove limbs – This year of rain has added extra water weight to tree limbs and they seem to be falling more often. Be sure to cut dead limbs and dead trees so that the extra weight doesn’t drop them on your house. If you can do it yourself, even better; however, if the limbs are over your house or close to the house, I would recommend a professional. Paying for a “haircut” is still cheaper than a roof coming through your ceiling!
- Kid-Proof the yard – Outdoor backyard fun is in full swing. Be sure your family and friends can enjoy the outdoors without having to go to the E.R. Loose screws, nails and splinters can injure people and kill the fun at a backyard BBQ. Inspect all outdoor furniture and outside play equipment (swing sets, trampolines, pools, etc.) for possible dangers. Tighten bolts, check for rotted parts and fix any other unsafe problems so you can be sure the fun stays until the sun goes down!
- Summer Fun! – This is probably the most important item on the list—or maybe I’m just biased. So…all work and no play makes you a grumpy summer camper. Make time for some summer fun of your own! Plan something fun at your house—it doesn’t have to be involved! Put some beverages on ice, grill some wienies and call your buddies!
Sadly, maintenance tasks don’t take the summer off, so you’ve got to stay on top of your “honey do” list to keep everything in great shape. However, don’t forget to enjoy your summer—after all, what good is a well maintained home if it isn’t shared over a BBQ with some friends?
Lisa E. Priest is ready to fire up the grill and is a Palestine, Texas REALTOR® / Broker with Picket Fence Realty, Inc. You can reach her via phone or text at 903-948-3343 or read more at BuyPalestine.com
