Summer is the perfect time of year to break out the power washers and screwdrivers to keep your home looking its best, both inside and out.
Annual upkeep should be at the top of every homeowners to-do list in order to maintain its visual appeal as well as keeping costs to a minimum. It will always be less expensive to maintain your home rather than have to fix major problems that could have been avoided.
Thankfully the beautiful weather in coastal Orange County in early Summer draws us outdoors into our yards and into the home maintenance mode.
HOME MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST
1. Power Wash – You can either rent a power washer or hire a professional, but either way, concentrate on removing debris from the driveway, sidewalks, pavers or other outdoor space, and the exterior of your home.
2. Inspect the Windows – If you have outdated windows, warm Summer is the perfect time of year to replace them with energy efficient ones. If not replacing windows, be sure to give them a good cleaning, using newspaper instead of pa-per towels. Take down the window treatments and clean them too. Also check the screens to make sure they are not ripped and are securely in place.
3. Clean out the Gutters – You’d be surprised at how much debris can collect in your gutters during the rainy season. Break out the ladder (or hire a professional) and clean them out.
4. Check the Roof – Take a look at your roof to make sure you haven’t lost any shingles over the course of the year, which could cause leaks.
5. Change Air Filters – Every year you should replace the filters in your heating and cooling systems to get the most out of the units. This will not only help to prolong the life of the system, but will help keep allergens to a minimum.
6. Replace Batteries in Smoke Detectors – This one doesn’t need any explanation and you will avoid the jarring beep reminder.
7. Refresh the Mulch or Stone – No matter what you use as the surroundings for plants and flowers, giving it a fresh layer will have it looking its best.
Giving your home an annual inspection to check for damage is the best way to keep overall costs to a minimum and have your home looking its best.
Considering Diving Into a Swimming Pool Addition?
Adding a swimming pool to your property can add cash value and an enhanced lifestyle, but it’ll also cost you to keep it sparkling and, perhaps, some extra effort when it’s time to sell. The pros and cons are many. Home buyers love swimming pools and they hate them. The same goes for sellers. A pool can be a family oasis during swim season. Pools put small children at risk, but provide full body workouts for athletes.
With construction down, chances are, you can drive a hard bargain to have a new pool installed these days. However, it’s going to cost you tens of thousands of dollars and, because of buyers’ love-’em-hate-’em relationship with pools, don’t expect to get a full return on your investment when you sell. If you are going to add a swimming pool to your property take as much time considering and planning for the improvement as it will take the contractor to put you in the swim.
When it comes to value, get the opinion of a home appraiser in terms of how it will impact the value of your home. Even then it can be a toss up. In a community with many existing pools, a pool could boost your home’s value nearer the value of like homes with pools. In a community without pools, your return could be smaller because you’ll attract a smaller pool of buyers. The neighborhood also comes into play on the value scale. Even if you have the only pool on the block, if your neighborhood has excellent schools, is low on crime and is in a sought-after location, the pool could be a plus for the right buyer and your bottom line.
Also talk to the Stovall Team to determine how homes with pools sell. We talk to sellers in neighborhoods with both high and low pools-to-homes ratios and are able to see how they affect value and salability.
Of course, if you have a family of swimmers and plan to stay in your home many years, selling and a return on your investment is far less important. Consider that a pool will erase a large chunk of your property. It’s design must be a good fit for your family and your property.
Engage your neighbors. Ask about their likes and dislikes; what changes they’d make; how long and disruptive it was to install the pool; and unexpected costs. You’ll also want nearby neighbors to know major construction may be afoot. Pinterest at its best…start a collection of pool images collected from magazines, showrooms, online searches, your own photos and oth-er sources. Collect pool images that are alluring to you and stockpile images that contain pool features you like. The images will help you visualize the form and function you want built into your pool. After a while, you’ll see a common thread in the type of pool you desire.