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Routine Home Maintenance Tips

August 15th, 2011

Very often, when we list a home, we find that the owner has overlooked certain routine maintenance items. Often this results in repairs that are more expensive than the maintenance would have been. The most common reason sellers tell us that they did not do these maintenance items is that they simply didn't know they were supposed to. Here are 5 of the more common ones we see:

  1. HVAC service – An HVAC professional should clean and inspect your furnace and air conditioner once a year (depending on usage). This not only helps extend the life of your HVAC system, but can also help alert you to minor problems before they get worse.
  2. Duct cleaning – This should be done routinely, but how often it is needed can vary based on air quality factors in your home. Any duct cleaning professional will be able to recommend an appropriate frequency. Keeping your ducts clean can help extend the life of your furnace and can improve the air quality in your home. When ductwork is not cleaned routinely, we sometimes see a black (or dark) stain around the edges of the carpeting throughout the home that can be difficult or impossible to remove without replacing the carpeting.
  3. Dryer vent cleaning – This can usually be done by the same professionals as duct cleaning. The frequency will vary depending on your dryer usage. Lint build up in your dryer vent can be a serious fire hazard and can also cause your dryer to run less efficiently.
  4. Exterior wood trim – Any wood trim on the exterior of your home should be kept painted or stained at all times. The paint / stain helps protect the wood from absorbing moisture. Unprotected wood can develop wood rot, and once that happens the wood will usually need to be replaced. This is also true of most wood siding products and wood decks.
  5. Gutter cleaning – Blocked gutters can cause excess water to collect in places where it shouldn't be (like near the foundation of your home). Over time, this can lead to a variety of different problems such as basement seepage issues or even mold.

If you had a home inspection done when you purchased your property, that report may have more maintenance recommendations specific to your particular property. If you can't find the report, check with the inspection company or the agent or attorney you worked with – they may have a copy in their file.

This information is not intended as legal advice, nor is it an exhaustive guide regarding this subject. For legal advice, please consult an attorney. No warranty or representation, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein and the same is presented subject to errors and omissions.