Important Home Maintenance Check Ups to Do Annually

It’s important to do annual home maintenance checkups to ensure that your property is in good condition. By inspecting the roof, windows, and foundation of your home, you can catch any potential problems before they turn into costly repairs. This blog post will provide a detailed checklist of items to inspect during your annual home maintenance check-up. Keep reading for more information!

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Roof Inspection

Leaks and cracks are the number one reason homeowners need to perform regular roof maintenance. While identifying roof issues can be challenging, we've made it easy for you by providing a list of things to check for during your annual home maintenance check-up:

1. Rooftop penetrations (including vents and bathroom exhaust fans) should be tightly sealed and not let in any water.
2. Make sure ducts aren't loose or have fallen off.
3. Look at all seams on the roof to ensure no visible signs of leakage.
4. Check your shingles for curling, cracking, or splitting.

A missing shingle may indicate an issue with the underlayment that may have led to excess moisture absorption underneath.

Window Inspection

​Your windows should be well insulated to prevent heat loss during the winter and overheat during the summer. Check your windows for cracks or gaps, which could let in air and damage the window seal. The window sill shouldn't have any water stains, indicating possible leakage. Finally, ask yourself if you even need all of your windows - energy-efficient windows are more expensive than standard windows but can save you money on your energy bills each month! When comparing different types of replacement windows, keep in mind that vinyl is typically considered the most durable option available.

Foundation Inspection

​The foundation of your home is crucial to its structural integrity. If your property was built before 1978, there is a good chance that the foundation has lead paint. Given this fact, you should consider having your home inspected by a professional. The foundation walls and piers should be free of cracks and depressions that indicate water issues. Holes or gaps between or around the foundation and exterior walls may point to insect damage underneath. Keep in mind that even if there are no noticeable signs of corrosion, it doesn't mean your house's foundation won't suffer from heavy rain or erosion. Note: Foundation inspections typically cost $200 - $300 for an average-size home so consider getting quotes from several companies before hiring someone to inspect your residence.

Other Areas to Inspect

​In addition to the three main areas of your home that you should inspect, there are several other things you'll want to check during your annual home maintenance check-up. The roof of your detached garage should be in good condition and have no visible signs of damage. If your home has a deck, take a close look at its structural integrity. Next, test any screens or storm windows for holes or rips by checking for bugs coming through or drafts of cold air entering. Finally, inspect any vegetation around the foundation of your house for pests such as insects, rodents, or fungi. While some bugs are harmless, others can cause extensive property damage!

Declutter
​While decluttering doesn’t instantly sound like a maintenance checkup for your home, this actually is! Sure, while the structure of your home itself is going to be at risk due to clutter, it’s still going to help to focus on clutter. Ideally, every six months, you should look into what can be done about. Chances are, unintentionally, you have incurred some clutter that you didn’t even realize you had. This can be quickly addressed by opting for a reliable storage option.

A yearly home maintenance check-up is a great way to ensure that your property stays in good condition. Be sure to inspect all major areas of your house, including the roof, windows, and foundation, during this process.