Preventative Home Maintenance now can save you a bundle in costly repairs later. Contact me today for referrals on any of these small tasks, or if you discover that repairs may be needed.

Tips for Winter from (Houzz):

. Get ready for winter storms. Keep snow shovels, gloves, ice melt and window scrapers near the door. Even if it doesn’t snow much where you live, it’s smart to keep the pantry stocked with food, bottled water, candles and flashlights in case of power outages.

. Disconnect hoses. Shut off the water supply to your outdoor faucets. After shutting off the water, turn on the faucets outside to allow any water left to drain out. Then disconnect garden hoses, drain the water and roll up the hoses to store them inside. Get a koozie for your outdoor spigot to help keep it insulated all Winter.

. Update emergency supplies. Put your mind at ease that you are prepared for emergencies by making sure you have a well-stocked emergency kit in the house and in the trunk of your car. At the very least, include bottled water, a hand-cranked radio, a flashlight and extra batteries, a cell phone charger, food, blankets and a first-aid kit. At home also keep your most essential documents in one easily accessible place.

. Check for drafts. Feel a chilly draft when you’re hanging out in the living room? Don’t just reach for a blanket; get out the weather stripping! Taking care of gaps that let in cold air can make a big difference in how well your home holds heat.

. Boost home security. If you will be traveling over the holidays, use light timers for interior lights and ask a friend or neighbor to take in mail. If it’s going to snow while you are away, hire a service to plow or shovel your walkways. It will give the impression that your house is being lived in and make coming home much more pleasant. Even if you are staying at home, consider adding motion-sensor exterior lights to make it less inviting to potential burglars.

Tips for Spring:

Inspect your roof and repair for any damage, before damage outside becomes water damage inside.
Clean or replace your filters for your heating and air conditioning units. This is probably a good time to schedule your yearly furnace servicing and ask that they replace the filter while they are out.
Clean your gutters.
Check the washing machine repair hose. Look for cracks that could become leaks.
Clean dryer vent. The lint trap doesn't catch all of the lint all of the time cleaning your vent once a year will save you money by reducing the time your dryer has to run, and also reduces the chance of fire.
Clean and repair window screens. It's SPRING! Let's get some fresh air in and keep pests out by washing screens with soap and water on a flat service and repairing any rips or holes in the screen.
Repair cracked or peeling paint. This not only keeps your home looking fresh it's a great preventative measure to protect the home against the elements.
Vacuum refrigerator coils. Use a vacuum cleaner hose or a brush to clean the coils. This will keep your refrigerator running efficiently saving you money on your electricity bill and helping to extend the life of your appliance.
Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. (Do this when the time changes with daylight savings at the same time you change your clocks to help you remember).
Drain your water heater to get rid of sediment build up in the tank. Use the spigot near the bottom of the heater to drain it. Doing this once a year saves on energy costs and prolongs the life of the appliance. Click here for a link on how to do this yourself.
Check seals around windows and doors. Winter cold can crack and harden caulk and other weather seals, repair and replace as needed now.
Fix cracks in driveway and walkways. Most of these repairs are fairly easy if done immediately.
Clean decks, driveways, fences and other outside surfaces. A pressure washer makes the work much easier. If you don't have one, borrow one from a tool lending library, or rent one from a home center. While you're cleaning, inspect for damage.