Maintaining Your Custom Home

These days, we’re spending more time at home than ever. It’s become increasingly important to have a house designed for being at home – with all the small modern comforts that make a difference, like a productive office space and a welcoming outdoor area.

In addition, many homeowners are using this time as an opportunity to delve into much-needed home repair and maintenance. Maintaining your home can be a big job, but with a clear and systematic approach, anyone can give their home the TLC that it needs. This care will ensure that the health, performance, life, and resale value of your home is preserved.

To help, we’ve put together a checklist of items to keep your home in tip top shape.

Exterior Inspection

Do a quick walk around your home to check for paint chipping, siding damage, foundation cracks, window cracks, door & window caulking, weather stripping, etc. At least once a year after a big rain, take a look at your exterior drainage to make sure water is moving away from your foundation.

Roofing

Inspect your roof & flashing to ensure no damage or potential leaks. Once most of the fall leaves have fallen from your trees, hire a professional to clean out your gutters and downspouts to prevent roof issues. You can also have your chimney professionally inspected and cleaned.

Windows

Walk around the inside and outside of your home to check and make sure that your windows are sealed and caulked properly. For hard to reach windows, contact a professional window company to come out and inspect your windows (for safety purposes).

Doors

Check to make sure your front and back door(s) are properly sealed and caulked. Refinish entry door and other stained exterior doors every 1-2 years to keep looking fresh and prevent damage. Lubricate hinges on all doors and gates and vacuum door/window tracks.

Landscaping

Take a look at your landscaping. Clear all dead plants to ensure the health of other plants and cut down any damaged tree branches that are close to your home. Hire an irrigation specialist to ensure sprinklers are not spraying on the house & are providing correct coverage to landscaping.

Safety Devices & Other Electronics

Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be tested every three months, and the batteries should be replaced annually. Also, check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher(s), and replace them when they expire. You can also use this opportunity to test your garage door sensors and GFCI outlets with a voltage tester.

HVAC

Replace HVAC and air filters at least every three months. Clean leaves and debris from your HVAC condenser, and hire an HVAC specialist to clean condensate from drain lines, check for duct leaks, etc. This is also a good opportunity to clean out your clothes dryer exhaust duct to minimize fire hazard.

Plumbing

Inspect the bathrooms throughout your home. Check for small leaks or changes in water pressure on your faucets and toilets. Flush toilets and run taps in rarely used bathrooms.

Kitchen

As one of the most commonly used rooms in the house, maintaining your kitchen can be crucial. Vacuum your refrigerator coils to keep it running efficiently and lasting longer. Dismantle and clean sink traps (curved pipe) to clear obstructions and buildup. If you’re up for it, this is also a great time for a deep clean: Clean your sink’s garbage disposal with lemon slices or frozen vinegar ice cubes, and clean the range hood and filter by soaking them in degreaser and warm water.

Now that we’re spending so much time in our houses, regular home maintenance is a great way to continually reinvest in your home. Not only will you keep your home safe and looking great, you will also save money in the long run on costly repairs and help increase your home’s value in the future.

Want to learn more about how Clarum can help you preserve your home’s beauty and value? Give us a call at 650.322.7069, or sign up for our Home Care Program!