Begin Your Spring Cleaning on the Outside!

Spring is in the air… the traditional season of home cleaning, yard renewal and a crazy busy Real Estate market has arrived, and homeowners are quickly morphing into home sellers. Whether your property has been on the market through the Winter or you’re just getting ready to list, you’re likely weighing your Spring cleaning options.

First impressions are lasting and formed in just seconds, so it’s wise to focus your initial Spring cleaning efforts outdoors where home buyers are introduced to your property.

John Voket (below) walks us through a number of critical outdoor spaces and what we can do to make sure they are seen in the best light. I’ve also added a couple of my own.

Pools. Whether you take care of your pool on your own or employ someone to test and clean, your pool can develop issues over the Winter moths. Do you have a heater? It should be inspected yearly just like the heat or a/c in your home. Check around the waterline for calcium deposits, or residue from algae or chemical imbalances.

Patio. Decks are not so much a thing here in Arizona, but almost every home has a patio. Check for and fill cracks and separations. Build-up from blowing dust can leave your patio looking dingy and damaged. Pull weeds in spaces and treat with weed killer. Hose down the patio, repaint cool-decking or refresh concrete treatment.

As the owner of a rental property you’ll want to take similar measures to ensure your investment retains it’s value and produces the highest possible income.

Planning Your Spring ‘to Do’ List? Don’t Forget to Go Outside!

By John Voket

I know it’s warm and cozy doing your spring cleaning inside, but remember that spring cleaning plans should include a thorough walk around outside as well.

The Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC (MMA) in Minneapolis tells homeowners that an early inspection and maintenance of their property is extremely important to prevent risk. To assist in that, MMA has compiled a checklist of things to inspect each year:

Review the roof. The company suggests starting by inspecting your roof for broken or missing shingles and interior rafters for water stains. Most water stains will be found around or below an inadequately flashed chimney, skylight and other openings.

Gutt the gutters. MMA says gutters are able to perform when kept clean, so remove dirt and debris from all gutters and downspouts.

Look at lights. Lighting maintenance includes inspecting street lights, outdoor light fixtures, and indoor common-area lighting to promote safety and security. Make sure lights are clean and void of any dust, dirt or salt, which can result in lost energy and money. If lights are burnt out, think about replacing them with high efficiency CFL or LED bulbs.

Don’t miss the deck. When inspecting a deck or porch, look for peeling, splintering or rotting boards, and whether the wood is unprotected. If left unprotected, wood will soak up moisture and could lead to very serious damage. If a deck or porch needs to be resealed, clean it first with soap and water to clear off any mildew or mold, then after it is clean and dry, apply sealant, stain or paint.

Take care of trees. Remove dead wood and broken branches from trees or bushes. Replant shrubs, bushes and/or flowers that have worked their way out of the soil, and rake the ground.

Freshen with fertilizer. If necessary, add new soil, mulch and/or sod and lay fertilizer. Then, plant any new seeds or plants and implement a watering schedule.

Patch potholes. Finally, MMA says spring is a great time to repair cracks and potholes. First, determine the source of the issue so you can address and fix the root of the problem. It is always best to make these repairs as quickly as possible to prevent any type of hazardous conditions.