If you’re thinking of selling your Charlotte home this spring, let’s talk general maintenance–NOW!
Spring is in the air! Heralding the arrival of blooming flowers, chirping birds and warmer weather, spring also motivates us to get a little home maintenance done before the weather is just too hot to do so. It is the perfect time to do some after-winter indoor maintenance. If you’re thinking of selling your Charlotte home this season, now is the time to get these items addressed!
Here are eight indoor maintenance tips to help keep your Charlotte home in perfect operating condition:
Change air conditioning unit air filters monthly: Okay, so this one is year-round! Clean air filters help your heating and air conditioning units to run more efficiently, saving money on your energy bills and long-term maintenance issues.- Clean your gutters: Along with spring comes lots of rain! Be sure that your gutters are well cleaned and debris removed from the downspouts so that the rain water run-off from your roof does not collect or overflow. This can avoid damage to the soffits and future wood-rot repair from the water overflow.
- Install environmentally-friendly window treatments: Save on utility bills by adding blinds to windows that face south and west. Open windows when the sun sets and close them at sunrise.
- Examine your sump pump: If your home has a sump pump, you’ll want to make sure it is operating correctly, and install a battery backup pump. The backup, another pump that floats above the original pump, will kick on when the electricity goes out. If your sump pump fails, an alarm goes off, letting you know the backup is working. A few hundred dollars will save you thousands in water damage down the road.
- Inspect all doors and windows for leaks and drafts: Look for peeling and chipped paint, which can indicate that water seeped in. Caulk areas between the frame and the wall to keep water and drafts out of your Charlotte home. Examine putty and caulk lines around exterior windows and doors, and ensure that weather stripping creates a good seal.
- Check for gaps where mice and insects might intrude: Seal around under-sink faucet pipes, gaps where cabinets meet the drywall, etc.
- Replace caulking around sink faucets: If the caulking is discolored or worn away, this allows water to drip down inside the cabinets. Annual caulking can prevent damage that you may not see under your cabinets and under your home in the crawl space or basement area.
- Pay attention to worn grout in kitchens and bathrooms: If grout is missing or cracked, re-grout and re-seal as soon as possible. In bathrooms, get in the habit of wiping down tiled shower walls after each use.
If you’d like help identifying repairs that need to be done before putting your Charlotte home up for sale, I’m happy to do a free, no-obligation walkthrough of your home. Call me today at (704) 491-3310 or email me at Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com to schedule an appointment.