2010 Home Maintenance Action List For East Bay Real Estate!
January 12, 2010 by Jim Walberg · 2 Comments
The first week of each New Year it is common for people to make resolutions and promises to themselves, their families, and their business results. Statistics let us know that this annual ritual of resolutions is a very inspiring exercise that ends up rarely creating any change in a person’s life. So, what would be like if there was a simple calendar that you integrated in your Outlook or whatever calendar system you use that would alert you to a Home Action List that was broken down in to things you can do each month to maintain and improve the quality of your home?Â
Is this a good idea, or what? It was inspired by an article in the Contra Costa Times. Here is how it works. On the first weekend of each month log into your calendar the following suggested action items. ( You can create you own list, too.)  The deal is to take a moment and map out things to do on twelve different weekends a year.  Here goes…
JANUARY:Â Â Â Before store all of your Holiday decorations away in the garage or attic;Â label the boxes as to what is in them;Â if you have strands of lights, buy a light reel to wrap them around so they are not tangled next year when you take them out;Â throw away any broken decorations, or ones you have lost interest in.
FEBRUARY:   Check to see if your tank is leaking into your toilet bowl. Not very romantic for February, but worth the results saving on your water bill. Here is how it works. Add a couple of drops of food color into the toilet tank before you go to bed. In the morning if there is any discoloration in your toile bowl, your tank’s flapper is not closing properly. Also, how about installing low-flow shower heads in your showers?
MARCH:Â Â Spring is in the air and it is time for some outside maintenance;Â scrub your decks with a good cleaner, let dry and put a fresh coat of water repellent sealer on them;Â rent a power washer for the house, patio, and driveway;Â replace any dry-rotted trim or wood on the house;Â does your mailbox need to be repainted or replaced?
APRIL:   The rainy season is almost over, so; do touch-up painting and caulking on the outside of your home – cracks let water in; wash the exterior windows; clean the inside blinds and ceiling fans; change your heating and air conditioning filters.
MAY:   Memorial Day Weekend is coming and it is time to do some BBQ maintenance; before you fire up the BBQ get a wire brush and clean the gas burners and the grills; check for cracks in the sidewalks, driveway and foundation – fill all gaps with the appropriate caulking; put out ant traps around your home so they stay outside and leave you alone. ( Be careful with kids and pets.)
JUNE:Â Â Â This is the month for once a year projects;Â clean behind the refrigerator, vacuum the coils and replace the water filter;Â if needed, replace the washing machine hoses;Â check for leaks at the dishwasher and under the sink;Â test and label your circuit breakers.
JULY:   You will be flying your flag this month so make sure it is in good condition and the holder is still secure on the trim around your garage door. More for July; get your air conditioning system serviced; update your earthquake emergency supply kit – let me know if you want a referral to a cool store in Dublin that sells the entire supply kit. Be sure to add clothing, blankets, prescription medicine, baby stuff, extra car and house keys, extra eye glasses, credit cards and cash, and any important documents such as insurance policies.
AUGUST: Â Â Â This is the biggest vacation month of the year, so;Â check out your home security systems and door locks;Â stop your newspaper while you are gone;Â provide a friend or neighbor with all of your contact information;Â reorganize all of your gardening and household tools by getting them into their proper place at least once a year.
SEPTEMBER:   Your landscaping has grown all Spring and Summer. Take a look at the following; trim any trees that are crowding your home or power lines – you may need a professional to help you; trim your shrubs around your home that are touching your house; re-caulk windows and doors; make sure the insulation in the attic and sub-floor is adequate.
OCTOBER:Â Â Â Fall is here and rain is coming, so;Â clean gutters and service the downspouts;Â make sure the water heater is enough insulation on it;Â reverse your ceiling fans so they take air up instead of down, pushing warm air upwards.
NOVEMBER:   Rodent prevention month, so; seal holes around any pipes and wires that come into your home. Winter is when they are looking for a warm place to hangout; have your chimney and fireplace cleaned and serviced; test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and replace the batteries even though they are not chirping.
DECEMBER:   It is decorating your home month, so; when putting up your exterior lights, stay off the roof and don’t hammer nails into the roof for any reason; Since you did your homework last January unwinding your lights is a breeze this year. Still check the cords and bulbs that may need to be replaced; check for any carpets that are loose for potential tripping; review your homeowners insurance and renew your Home Warranty Policy.
CONGRATULATIONS! Don’t you feel terrific for rationing out your home projects over 12 months instead of packing them into a frantic and stressful week? Please add more suggestions that all of us should consider.
Related posts:
- East Bay Real Estate Tips For Selling Your Home – TODAY!
- 2010 Guide From East Bay Real Estate!
- September U.S. Home Sales UP 9.4%! An East Bay Real Estate False Indicator?
Filed Under: Blog, Featured Posts, Real Estate
Tagged: Contra Costa Times, east bay real estate, Jim Walberg
Hi Jim
What a great article. I’ll try and get past January!
Simon
You are way tooo funny, Simon. I promise January will be no problem. The challenge with this schedule is that is set up for the Northern Hemisphere, so it is all backwards for Australia. Just reverse the schedule and you will be fine.