Spring Cleaning Time

Posted under Home Owner Tips by judyo

It’s that time of year again.  In this post I’m going to focus on exterior cleaning and maintenance of your home.  With the weather warming in Oak Lawn and surrounding Chicago suburbs, it’s time to spruce up the outside of your property (even if you’re not selling).

The first item should be removing any holiday decorations you might still have up.  Next clean up any yard debris such as leaves and tree branches.  This is the time to reconsider general landscaping and decide if you’re going to add or remove foliage this year.  Maybe your lawn needs reseeding or regular fertilizing might be all that will be needed.  Will you do it yourself or hire someone else?

Owning a home requires constant maintenance.  Some of this work will prevent larger problems from occurring.  Sometimes a roof is in good enough shape but there’s one spot that needs patching.  If patched correctly, you could get many years before having to reroof your home.  With varying roofs because of additions or just the architecture of the home, the flashing sometimes needs to be assessed every year (and around the chimney).

If you have any kind of wood or wood trim on your home you’ll need to check for wood rot and either patch or replace.  Check areas that need painting or staining.  Maybe this is the year to install new siding.  If you have a brick home check for areas that need to be tuckpointed.  Doing it now can save you bigger problems down the road.

Another drudge job few enjoy is fixing concrete.  Again, this is a job that if caught in time can require a patch rather than installing an entire staircase or full sidewalk or driveway.  You need to take a look at your asphalt driveway to see if it needs a coating this year.

New windows are another maintenance item that can save your heating bills down the road.  Check your screens on windows and storm doors.  Maintenance on a wooden front door can extend the life of the door so consider what shape your door is in. 

Exterior work enhances your general curb appeal and, as mentioned, can save you money in the long run.  Just because you’re not thinking of selling doesn’t mean you give up on maintaining your home’s exterior.  Your neighbors have to look at your home whenever they’re in their front yard.  Maintenance now can really help keep up the value of your home for the future.