Spring Maintenance

Spring Maintenance
A Check-up for the House

With Spring around the corner it is a good time to think about giving your house a thorough check-up.  A regular maintenance plan will go far in helping you identify problems early on and mitigate costly damage and repairs.  And by keeping your house in good repair and good order you will enhance your everyday living.

Inspect and repair exteriors suffering the effects of winter weather.  Start a thorough cleaning room by room and check all house systems. Think through each area of your property to make a comprehensive checklist of basic tasks, such as the following:

Home Exterior

• Inspect the roof for leaks and damaged tiles or shingles

• Check siding for loose pieces and check trim for cracked paint

• Clean gutters, repair holes and weak joints, and replace damaged sections

• Replace exterior caulking that is peeling

• Inspect the foundation for cracks or other signs of weakening.

• Repair cracked or uneven driveways, stairs, and sidewalks to prevent injuries

• Remove and store storm windows and doors

• Wash windows and repair any damaged frames; clean and reinstall screens

• Clean up yard debris such as dead foliage and weeds; begin spring landscaping projects

• Clean and repair outdoor patio furniture

• Check sprinkler system for leaky or loose valves

• Inspect decks, patios, porches, stairs, and railings for loose pieces and deterioration

Home Interior

• Service the water heater pump and motor

• Clean the air conditioning unit and replace the belt when necessary; follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for professional maintenance

• Replace the furnace filter

• Make sure the electrical system is adequate to support any new appliances, technology, or increased wattage use; upgrade as necessary

• Clear slow-moving drains and ensure that plumbing shutoff valves function properly

• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter

• Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and damper

• Ensure that fire extinguishers are operable and accessible

• Clean smoke alarm covers and install new batteries

• Replace older light bulbs with energy-efficient models

• Sort through closets and other storage and pull out things that are no longer used, then make a plan to donate or sell them

With an established routine you will also become better acquainted with the nuances of your home systems and better equipped to deal with problems when they do arise.  It is a good idea to supplement your efforts by making a professional home inspection part of the routine.  While most homebuyers have an inspection as part of their due diligence when considering a new home, most homeowners don’t think to schedule an inspection once they are living in the house.  Yet, a professional home inspector can help you identify problems in your home before they become huge strains on your lifestyle and your wallet.  Once you have gone through your home to note things that concern you, an inspector can give you insight into necessary repairs and upgrades.

Making Your Sacramento Home Feel Larger

Making Your Sacramento Home Feel Larger

Increase Your Living Space without Increasing Your Living Space

For many of us, space is an issue.  We wish our homes were larger, but the obvious solutions – to build an addition or move into a larger home – require a large investment of time and money.  When you crave more space on a limited budget there are options that will increase your living space without increasing the size of your home.

• You can make small and inexpensive touches that will give the illusion of spaciousness:  Adding mirrors in a room reflects light and makes the room appear larger.  Place them across from openings such as a doorways and windows to increase the effect.

• Color will quickly change the feeling in a room.  The darker the paint color, the more intimate the room will feel; lighter colors open up the space.  If a room is bisected by architectural details such as chair rails, use a darker color in the lower section and a lighter color above to give the feeling of greater room height.

• Clutter is a space stealer – get organized and it will quickly seem as if you have more space.  And think vertically – most homes have a fair amount of unused vertical space: install shelves floor to ceiling on one wall and gather together those knick knacks and picture frames that are scattered throughout the house.  The end result will produce a designed, modern look and other areas will be clutter-free.

One of the most effective ways to create an open and spacious feeling in your home is to integrate indoor and outdoor living areas.  Newer homes are often designed with elements to convey that sensibility, but in older homes the indoor and outdoor spaces are generally separated.  Whatever the layout of your home, these updates will give the feeling of more space and increase the value of your property:

• Add or enlarge windows. Large windows or groups of windows let in more natural light.  And the extended view of your landscaping brings that aesthetic into your home.  If you don’t have much room for additional windows, consider adding smaller vertical windows beside an existing one.

• Sliding glass doors provide a nice connection to the outdoors and bring floor to ceiling light into the room.  By making the transition more accessible you encourage people to move freely between the indoors and outdoors, making both an integral part of your living experience.

• Open up the sliding doors onto an inviting outdoor space such as a deck, patio, or porch, and you’ve increased your living and dining areas.  With a roof or screened enclosure you can enjoy these spaces into the cooler months.  Although the initial construction can be costly, you might recoup that investment with reduced lawn and landscaping care and increased home resale value.

Look around your home for ways to use your space better and to work with what you have.  With the right renovations you’ll get more enjoyment from your home and get lasting value for your money.