Essex County NJ Seasonal Homeowners Checklist

Don’t you just love the seasonal “ToDo” lists that keep us on track with a home’s maintenance needs?  They are not only great reminders of what should be done and when, but they often contain items easily forgotten or unknown!

Maintaining a home saves money in the long run as well as increasing value when the time to sell arrives.  That’s because maintenance usually costs far less than major repairs to neglected areas of a house.

Here’s my version of the seasonal list which can help protect and maintain the value of your home.

FINANCIALLY:

• As you completed tax season, did you notice any possible deductions you weren’t able to take due to lack of receipts?  Tax deductions for homeowners have changed slightly.  This tax guide may prove helpful for next years preparations.
• This is also a great time of year to assess your current mortgage if you have one. Verify the unpaid balance and check that any additional principle payments were applied as intended.
• What about the newest property tax assessment? Did you know that your local marketing specialist can provide a no obligation updated home value assessment? This can be helpful if you feel a rise in assessment value went a bit high.

TO AVOID MAJOR REPAIRS:

• Protect your investment and increase value by keeping trees pruned and shrubs trimmed. This not only enhances visual appeal but can prevent damage to your gutters, roof and/or siding.
• Clean gutters twice a year to control rainwater drainage, directing it away from your home to protect roof, siding and foundation.
• Check all plumbing, especially the back of all toilets for any leaks and repair if necessary. Small leaks can so quickly turn into big plumbing issues when undetected.
• To identify indications of foundation issues, periodically, check around perimeter of home for cracks in walls or concrete or areas of puddling water. Make necessary corrections.
• Peeling or chipping paint can lead to wood and interior damage.  Small areas can be touched-up but multiple areas may indicate that the whole exterior needs painting.
• A wood burning fireplace needs the attention of a chimney sweep annually not only for cleaning, but to keep creosote from building up and being a fire hazard.
• If the home has a sprinkler system, manually turn the sprinklers on, one station at a time to determine if they are working and aimed properly.  Evaluate if the timers are set properly.  Look for pooling water that could indicate a leak underground.
• Notice small piles of what looks like sawdust? Have your home inspected for termites.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE:

• As we leave the winter heating season behind, let’s breathe fresh air by changing out those HVAC filters. Open your air intake panel and, if needed, pop a new filter in place.
• Those smoke alarms can be very alarming when they alert the whole neighborhood you’ve left something on the stove unattended for too long! At least once per year change out that battery in both the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for safety sake.
• Your heating and cooling system should be professionally serviced at least once a year to be certain everything is working at optimal efficiency.

Wondering about the state of the real estate market in Essex County New Jersey?  As your local marketing specialist, I’m always available to answer any questions you may have!