Spring Cleaning - Part 2: The Outside
Here is the second post to the Spring cleaning from Troy.
When you are considering selling your home, cleaning is a must. Here is a series by Troy Pappas a local home inspector on how to get your spring cleaning going.
To SELL or BUY Real Estate in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth or Hampton Roads visit my website. http://www.tererottink.com/ read my Blog at HamptonRoadsrealEstateVoice.com
As a Virginia Beach home inspector my job is to look for safety hazards and improper building practices when I do an exterior inspection.
Here I am writing about things that are more about curb appeal and spring cleaning for the exterior of your house. Here are a number of things that I often see as in need of attention, but not necessarily in need of being on a home inspection report.
It is that time of year when you want to make sure the grill is ready to be fired up for those warm evening BBQ’s. Make sure the grates are cleaned of with a wire brush. You can check the gas line for leaks by spraying soapy water onto them and slowly opening the line.
Since you are on the patio taking care of the grill you will also want to check the outdoor furniture. After a hard winter’s exposure there will be plenty of buildup that needs to be washed off. There are a number of good products at your local hardware outlet that can make this job easier.
The windows and screens will also be ready for a good wash down as well. Remove the screens so you can thoroughly clean them, and also get to the windows. This is a good time to check the caulking at the windows to make sure it is in good condition.
Here in Virginia Beach one of the more ubiquitous types of siding is vinyl siding. Anyone that has vinyl siding knows that one of the issues is the buildup of algae’s and mildews. Using a hose and soapy water should be enough to tackle most areas of buildup. A soft brush will come in handy here as well.
Take a walk around the exterior of the home and check the trim for peeling paint or areas of damage.
And of course there is everyone’s favorite springtime task, the cleaning of the gutters. Clear all debris and buildup out of all the gutters. Check all the connections and downspouts to make sure you have secure connections.
A word of caution about attacking your home with a pressure washer.
Make sure you know how to properly use one, or you can end up doing more than cleaning your home. It is easy to cause damage if you are not experienced using this equipment.
See also: Spring Cleaning- Part 1: The Garage
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Troy Pappas
Safe House Property Inspections
757-418-0944
Site: Virginia Beach Home Inspector
Email: troy@safehousepropertyinspections.com
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