Every house is different, but there are some common elements every homeowner can include on a regular maintenance list:
- Check the grading and drainage around the foundation
- Seal driveway and walkway cracks
- Check fencing and gates
- Check and trim trees near the house
- Check for deteriorating/damaged siding
- Check for loose, damaged, or missing roofing and flashings
- Clean all gutters and leaders
- Check weather-stripping and seals on all windows and doors
- Insulate water lines that are subject to freezing
- Check condition of the water heater
- Check ventilation openings for blockage
While this list is not comprehensive, it’s a good start to identifying some potential trouble spots in any home. Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More home safety and maintenance information is available online at www.housemaster.com.
This information is provided for general guidance purposes only. Neither DBR Franchising, LLC nor the local HouseMaster® franchise warrants its accuracy and assumes no liability related to its use. Contact the local franchise office and/or qualified specialists for advice pertinent to your specific house or circumstances. © Copyright 2008 DBR. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of DBR Franchising, LLC.
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These tips come courtesy of HouseMasters.
All homes require constant care. General estimates indicate that every home will require between 1 percent and 3 percent of the home’s value in annual maintenance costs in order to keep it in good condition, and this figure does not necessarily include major or emergency repairs. But since you already own your home – let’s talk about how to create some best practices when it comes to maintaining your home.
The ongoing maintenance of a home is a significant contributor to holding or increasing its value. All homeowners should plan a solid preventive maintenance schedule, so potential problems can be fixed before they become more costly and damaging. Quite often when we inspect homes, many of the defects we find would have been preventable with some routine monitoring and smaller repairs. But left unchecked, minor concerns grow into more significant problems.
There are many other benefits for homeowners when they incorporate preventive maintenance into their annual planning. Preventive maintenance:
- Avoid expensive emergency repairs: Contractor fees rise in proportion to the urgency and the hour of the service call.
- Saves money and aggravation: Repairs planned for completion during off-peak times are less expensive and less stressful.
- Minimizes homeowner insurance premiums: Correcting deficiencies before they lead to catastrophic failure and a possible insurance claim will keep premiums reasonable.
- Eliminates costly consequential damage: When major home components, like a roof, fail, the damage to home interiors and furnishings can be substantial.
- Homes in good condition sell at higher prices than neglected counterparts.
While you perform your maintenance inspection, think home safety. The International Code Council (ICC) has declared May as Building Safety Month in an effort to emphasize the value of code compliance and to promote safer buildings. The ICC is responsible for development of the International Residential Code (IRC), which has been adopted by many municipalities and other code jurisdictions. The primary focus of the IRC, as well as other codes such as the National Building Code of Canada, or the National Fire Protection Association’s widely used National Electric Code, is life safety. Review the other newsletter articles for some tips to help address potential safety hazards in your own home and reduce the risk of injury or property damage:
Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More home safety and maintenance information is available online at www.housemaster.com.
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February is a time of excited anticipation. This month a gradual heralding of early spring begins in the lower parts of the region and steadily advances through the entire area.
Planning
Detailed planning of areas of general development should be completed by the middle of the month. In fact, any plan work not well in hand by now may very easily be crowded out entirely by more pressing programs. Detail planning means the actual decision necessary as to placement, quantities, and space allotments for the various plants to be used this season.
Planting
This is the last call for planting of dormant trees and shrubs. Growth activity will begin by the end of the month and later planting will hamper the ideal development of these plants. Give the plants a chance to reward you with their season’s growth without being stunted by late planting.
Rose planting should begin about the 15th of the month. Great expectations are kindled in a gardener when he receives his order of rose bushes for the season, and one can easily dream of the warm days ahead when the lush foliage, beautiful blooms and perfume will fill the garden.
Steps for Successful Rose Planting
- Unpack carefully and prune away any broken or damaged stems or roots; prune plants for shape and paint the end of each cane to prevent damage.
- Plunge the roots in water, preferably overnight, making sure that all the roots (including the bud union) are completely immersed. The roots soak up a full amount of water and are ready to resume growth activity.
- Dig a deep hole sufficiently large enough to accommodate all roots without crowding.
- For each rose bush, add one gallon of peat moss mix thoroughly by digging in sides and / or bottom of hole.
- Plant bush with roots extending downward and pack soil securely around bush for about two-thirds of the depth.
- Fill the hole with water and pull in more topsoil around and upon the bush into a mound up to 12 inches in height. This mound will prevent dehydration of the canes which is caused by frequent high winds in this region and also will protect the new plants from undue cold weather that may occur for the next few weeks.
- After growth begins, gradually work the mounds away and carry on regular maintenance.
For general planting activities the above procedure is recommended for all deciduous trees and shrubs (those that lose their leaves during the dormant season) including those whose leaves and flowers are used in making dried potpourri recipes. Use a general all-purpose fertilizer. Other fertilizers may have to be resorted to, especially if your soil is deficient in any particular nutrient.
Soil Preparation
If this important job has not yet been done, by all means do it now. Get the planting areas for the seasonal color plants ready. Scatter a balanced fertilizer (5-10-5) and spade it in as deep as possible then wet-down. A light mulch of rotted organic material over the shrub beds now will give a good supply of nitrogen for spring growth.
You can’t always get what you want but you can find what you need on the subject of dried potpourri recipes. Ready for a better understanding? Visit plant-care.com
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Here are a few ideas to help you achieve a comfy, warm feel with your home decorating this winter:
- Use lighter fabrics to help bring the appearance of ‘extra light. With the shorter days you’ll appreciate the affect it will have on your home.
- Place lots of candles around your home to shed light on every corner. Again, this will help make the shorter days a little more bearable.
- Arrange furniture to face the fireplace or hearth. On cold winter days, even in somewhat balmy Rock Hill SC or Fort Mill SC, it’s nice to sit in front of the fireplace enjoying the warmth it gives off.
- The real sense of the season starts at the front door so don’t be afraid to continue displaying seasonal wreaths, candles, or other greenery on or around the front door to your home. If altered just slightly, you can get more use out of your Christmas decorations you’ve probably already stashed away.
Listen, even though the weather’s turned cold doesn’t mean we have to put our decorating style on ice too! Just use a little creativity, some imagination, and before you know it your Rock Hill SC home will be just as warm and inviting as it was during the holiday season!
Filed under Decorating Ideas, Fun Stuff, Home Decorating, Homeowner Ideas by
When people talk about the state of the environment and what can be done to improve it and actually save it, thy’re not just talking about what businesses are or should be doing. In many cases, helping clean up the environment is something that starts at home!
Here’s a GREAT primer for greening up your Rock Hill SC home:
Filed under Carolina Real Estate, Energy Efficiency, Home Repairs, Homeowner Ideas by
