In this second fall home-maintenance checklist (visit the first one here), we’ll pick up where we left off tapping our wealth of resources for tips and tricks to make the best of your pre-autumn chores. DFW Properties would like to present the following suggestions:
Don’t Prune, Do Transplant. Colonel Landscaping (colonellandscaping.com) in Connecticut advises clients to resist the desire to prune in fall, and save that chore for spring, when pruning promotes new growth. Instead, Colonel suggests transplanting trees and shrubs that, without the added stresses of summer weather, will focus their energies on root growth.
Touch-Up and Turn. Author Cynthia Ewer who also blogs at organizedhome.com, believes late summer is perfect for touching up paint on trim, railings and decks. Use a wire brush to remove flaking paint, and prime bare wood first. While you’re at it, Ewer says check the caulk around windows and doors, and follow manufacturer’s recommendations to re-caulk if needed.
Inside, Ewer reminds homeowners to do things like turn mattresses front-to-back and end-to-end to equalize wear, while laundering or cleaning all bedding: mattress pads, pillows, duvets, blankets, comforters.
Clean Appliances. Kit Arbuckle, a source at care.com, says don’t just clean the insides of your living spaces – clean the insides of your appliances, too! Arbuckle is an advocate of cleaning the inside of your oven, your clothes washer and dryer – even your dishwasher. Just make sure you’re using a cleaner that’s recommended by the manufacturers.
Ready Radon Monitoring. Robby Martin at southernliving.com reminds homeowners that while autumn temperatures encourage open windows, during cold weather, a home is often deprived of fresh air.
Martin smartly recommends planning to periodically monitor radon levels that can seep through foundation cracks and other openings within your home using EPA approved kits, available at home-improvement stores. He says such kits will include information on where to send the results for a lab analysis.
DFW Property Management.com manages properties in the entire Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex. We offer three property management packages: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Please click on the links to read more about each one, or check out our comparison page. Give us a call at 682-200-6700 if you have any questions.
