When it comes to home maintenance it's always "better late than never", but who wants to work outside when it's too cold to move your fingers!
Here are my top 5 things to take care of before cold and damp becomes the default condition:
- Clean your roof, muck out the gutters, clear the downspouts, and seal corner joints if necessary. I see a lot of roof and fascia (wooden trim) damage caused by rain gutters that are unable to do thier job because they are packed with leaves, and in some cases hosting a crop of grass! If you don't like heights, hire a handyperson.
- Clean the deck, and seal the surface. This is another area where a little neglect can cause a lot of damage, and a dirty deck is slippery when wet, so don't risk damaging yourself!
- Touch up missing paint or finishes on your home - even if you plan to paint next summer. Exposed wood eventually loses the ability to hold paint, and when moisture gets under the edges of remaining paint the trouble spreads. Always make sure the first coat on bare wood is primer. Putting topcoat on unprimed surfaces is asking for early paint failure.
- Check your heating system and change the filter. Ok, so this doesn't really qualify as an outdoor task, but again, better to do it now than when the mercury dips into the 20's.
- Take a freakin' break already! Life is short, and you'll never hear anyone on their deathbed lament that they didn't spend more time on a ladder. Have hot toddy or two. Go outside and play catch with the kids. Give your S.O. a backrub. Just chillax - the work will always be there for you. And give me a call if you need a referral to a local pro for help with any of your home maintenance and improvement projects.
Best of the season,
Bobby
541 225-8081
bobby@alternativerealtor.com
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