Let’s face it, maintenance and owning your own real estate in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, or Hampton Roads is a necessary duty.
We are not talking about the normal home chores, mowing the lawn, or mopping the kitchen but more of the “stuff” that we tend to avoid or just do not know about. Whether a seasoned real estate investor, long time or first time home owner, there are things we all can learn about protecting our Virginia Beach and Hampton Road’s home’s value.
John Frank recently wrote a great article for the recent REALTOR® Magazine about “Maintenance
Must-do’s”. The experts in his article were Lou Manfredini, Ace
Hardware’s home improvement spokesman and star of “Mr. Fix-it” show and Frank Lesh, President of the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Let’s review their home maintenance must-do’s:
Inside:
- Change your furnace filter monthly. We all know this but seldom follow this
rule. Improve your home furnace’s
performance with this simple replacement.
- Drain your water heater at least once a year. Never done this before, but it does remove
the sediment and prolong the life of the unit.
- Check your circuits or breakers. Test by switching them off then on. If you have a breaker that keeps tripping it
may be a problem.
- Watch out for drips and leaks. Check under the sinks for drips and
leaks. Fix it early to avoid water
damage.
- Replace water heaters, furnaces, roofs, and other key
system components of your home before failure. Useful lives are:
-
- Water heater – 7-15 years
-
- Exterior home painting – 5-10 years
-
- Roof – 13-15 years
-
- Deck staining – 4-7 years – maybe more often in Virginia
Beach and Hampton Roads with our climate and moisture
issues.
- Deck staining – 4-7 years – maybe more often in Virginia
Outside:
- Keep moisture out. Check flashing between roofs and chimneys to
prevent water seeping inside walls.
- Check foundation for cracks or gaps. Repair to keep water and critters out.
- Use heavy duty plastic drain hoses connect to downspouts to
get water away from the home. They
are available at home depot or Lowe’s home improvement centers.
Keep your curb appealing and protect the value of your Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, and Hampton Roads home.
See how your REALTOR® provides value and represents your interests only whether new construction or resale.
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