Maintenance To Do January 2024

At the beginning of the year we are reminded by many to “declutter and clean.”   With the cold, rainy winter we are having in Florida, we find ourselves at home more… with the extra time…we have time to address some home chores.  In this week’s blog, I report again on how to maintain your real estate investment, and the much needed routine maintenance on things around the home. I read an article from the  National Association of Realtors that addresses eight common fixes that show up in inspections reports… “fix now or fix later?”   Bob Vila’s article addresses 18 areas of your home you may not be cleaning…and should.

You may not be selling your home, but you do want to have it in its best shape, and keep it that way. You  don’t want to have to do a lot of repairs before you put your home on the market. Some items found in an inspection can make or break a sale,  particularly if the buyers are unsure about the items flagged in the report.  No home is perfect according to a NAR home inspection service person. The home inspection a visual review of the home’s structure and its key components, including the plumbing and electrical systems.  Higher cost replacement parts and systems may be used to renegotiate the sale price. So what are some of the things that you should be looking for in keeping you’re home  in good shape? A  home inspector will look for signs of structural issues. Even minor hairline cracks in the concrete slab or on the interior walls can set of an alarm. Inspectors will walk on the outside of your home, looking for cracks in the stucco.  Some electrical panels have been recalled because of fire hazards.  They include some of the “Challenger” brand boxes that were put in Black Diamond homes back in the 1980s and early 90s.  Inspectors will be looking for plumbing issues including leaks. Even small leaks can lead to a lot of damage.  They will check, of course the age of  home air conditioning and hot water systems. How old are they? How much life do they have left?  Inspectors will look for potential safety habits in a home  such as tripping hazards from cracks in the driveway or steps into the house or missing or loose handrails.   You need to replace your smoke detectors every 10 years.   Inspectors  will look on the outside of your home for drainage “washouts”  to see if the water from  sprinklers and/or rain is draining properly away from the house.  Too much water near foundation is not good.  Everything is fixable and none of the items that I mention today should be dealbreaker during a sale if owner has been proactive in maintenance.

link to full article:8 Common Home Inspection Issues- Fix Now or Later?

Bob Villa gives you some other ideas about 18 cleaning spots often neglected in your home. People can have areas of their homes they never even think about cleaning… places where dirt, dust and germs may be lurking. When was the last time you cleaned your shower curtain? Your kitchen trash can and its cabinet area.  Vila  includes information on vacuuming underneath and behind furniture, replacing refrigerator gaskets, periodic cleaning of refrigerator coils. Clean out dryer vents yearly.  Your remote controls and hand held devices can also harbor germs.  Clean: the tops of ceiling fans, window treatments, light switches, and shower curtains. —-If anyone has someone who will clean window treatments like our Levolors,  please let me know. It’s expensive to have them cleaned, but there are not many people who do this job, and I’m looking for someone.  

Link to full article: 18 Spots in Your Home You Probably N ever Clean—But Should – Bob Vila

I have cleaned out file cabinets, kitchen drawers,  tried a new product to clean the tile grout, donated a lot of Christmas decor and clothes…I much rather be riding my bike or golfing…hope this weather turns warmer soon.