Home Care Resolutions For The New Year
It’s a new year and you know what means–resolution time! A time to reflect on the things we did in the previous year and set goals for the new one. While many people will resolve to work out more often or get more sleep each night, us homeowners are always thinking of ways to improve our homes. Here are 5 New Year’s resolutions every homeowner should keep in 2019.
1. Inspect Your Home’s Exterior
Let’s start with the exterior. Over time your home takes on a lot of wear and tear, especially in an ever-changing climate like Charlotte. Paint starts to chip, shingles become loose, holes in the brick begin to form, and roofs start to leak. No one wants to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars repairing the damage that could have been prevented. It’s important to inspect the exterior to as a preventative measure. That way you can avoid serious damage that can cost you time, money, and a major headache.
Simple tasks such as touching up the paint, power-washing the siding, or looking into that broken shingle on your roof are easy ways to keep up on the maintenance of your home’s exterior.
So instead of putting it off, use the start of the new year as a time to get those small updates and repairs completed so you don’t have to worry about them. Plus–your home will look so great with a refresh you will be kicking yourself that you didn’t do it sooner once it’s all complete.
2. Check The Windows
There’s nothing like cracking open the window and letting in the fresh air when the weather starts to warm up. However, while they’re great for letting in the fresh breeze, windows are also the perfect entry point for rodents and bugs. That’s why it’s so important to check your windows and screens at least once a year! Checking your windows and screens at the beginning of each year is a great way to make sure that your screens don’t have any holes and that there aren’t any open gaps in your windows.
Taking the time to inspect your windows while it’s still cold outside will give you ample time to repair any damaged screens or gaps. This way you can get your screens in tip-top shape by spring when the weather gets warm and you want to be able to open your windows without worrying about bugs getting into your home.
3. Give Your Lawn Some Love
Your lawn will go dormant in the cold months of winter. However, it is important to take precautionary steps in order to make sure your lawn survives the winter. Use January as a preparation month to make sure your lawn is prepared for the harsh conditions.
Fertilizing your lawn is a great idea as it lost a lot of nutrients during the hot summer months. The fertilizer will also help sustain your lawn through the winter.
Take a break from mowing. There is less sun in the winter, which means your lawn will not grow as fast. Weekly mowes are no longer necessary, you will most likely only need to mow your lawn a couple of times throughout the winter.
And don’t forget about your plants! If you add 1.5 inches of mulch to your plant beds, your plants will stay warm and protected from the harsh climate. In addition, you will be amazed at how nice they will look with some fresh mulch.
January is a great time to organize and sharpen your tools. You won’t be using them much so you have time to make sure everything is ready to go come spring.
4. Clean Your Gutters
Gutters…they’re gross, they’re messy, and if you don’t take care of them they can cause serious problems. It’s important to clean your gutters at least twice a year. Water damage can occur if your gutters are clogged, as rain collects around the foundation of your home instead of being redirected farther away. This water can then build up around your foundation, basement, crawlspace, and landscaping causing a plethora of issues like mold, leaks, and more.
In addition, an abundance of debris in your gutters can attract bugs, pests, rodents, and mold, which you definitely do not want. So it’s important to get rid of any debris before a critter makes your gutter their new home.
5. Attic and Crawlspace
You know the saying–out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, that applies pretty well to our attics and crawl spaces. Because these aren’t areas of our homes that we spend a lot of time in, maintenance in these areas often gets overlooked. With the new year well on its way, this is the perfect time to take a look at these places and see if there is anything that needs to be repaired!
Improper insulation and encapsulation in our attics and crawl spaces can lead to a plethora of issues for the rest of our home. One of those problems being mold and mildew growth–particularly in the attic. The attic is the first part of your house that braces any type of weather or damage, meaning that it gets a lot of wear and tear. Any holes in the roof or improper insulation will allow water into these places, eventually fostering mold and mildew growth.
Now that you’ve added these five home maintenance points to your list of resolutions this year, you can now start the New Year off right! For assistance with any of these things or to learn more about our services, visit our website today. Should 2019 bring your home any sort of issues, no need to worry. Killingsworth will be here for any and all of your home and lawn needs. Schedule an appointment with us now!
