Gail Schoeneberg

Moving isn’t just about selecting the dream home for you and your family.  It also requires deep consideration to find the perfect neighborhood.  You’ve likely heard the phrase, “location, location, location,” and it’s absolutely true for choosing the right location for your next home.  Savvy homebuyers know they can redecorate or remodel an existing home to be more of their taste, but it’s impossible to change the neighborhood around the house.  So, what kinds of things should you consider when looking for a new home?

10 Considerations to find a Perfect Neighborhood for You

1. Total cost.  In Oregon, real estate property taxes are based on municipality or county.  That means the same house in one city may have much higher or lower property taxes than in another location–sometimes nearby.  It’s important to consider how much property taxes will cost and work with your realtor to find homes within your overall budget.  Likewise, you may find the asking price for similar homes different from one neighborhood to another very different based on various factors such as school district, distance from the city center or college campus, or general desirability.
2. School districts.  For families with school-age children, school districts are generally a top consideration.  Talking with parents in the area will give you a good idea of which schools will be a good fit for your children.  Some districts allow “lotteries” where you may be able to request a school other than the one your property is assigned to.
3. Recreation.  Many people enjoy walking to local attractions such as parks, pools, recreation facilities, and fitness centers.  Others don’t mind the drive but wish to have easy accessibility to hiking trails, ski slopes, or the beach.  Being true to your interests and selecting a neighborhood well matched to them will increase the chances you’ll enjoy your home for the long haul.
4. Family Makeup.  Some neighborhoods attract families with young children, while others promote a quieter lifestyle for older individuals.  Take a stroll and talk with families in prospective communities.  Note whether you see neighbors outside on their front porches and lawns or if families remain more secluded away from each other.
5. Commute.  If family members travel each day for work or school, it’s essential to know how far the commute will be and how easy the traffic is to navigate during peak hours.  Driving even a few miles may add a half hour or more to a commuter’s time behind the wheel in some cities.
6. Technology.  If you work from home or if your family relies on the internet for streaming, gaming, or other communications, you’ll want to consider the availability of the internet in the area.  For example, you may find a larger home that fits your budget within a rural community, but the only form of connectivity may be via satellite internet providers.
7. Community services.  You may have more access to taxpayer-funded community services if you reside within the city limits than a family whose home is in the county.  From accessibility to city police or county sheriff to free benefits at the city library, these are important elements to be aware of before buying.
8. Winter conditions.  Spring and summer are the most popular times to purchase a new home.  Yet, it’s important to consider how the property and roads to the house will be in winter conditions.  For example, how comfortable will you feel commuting to work on a winding road in icy conditions?  Will the street to your home be plowed?  Does the creek running through the neighborhood flood?
9. Homeowner Associations (HOAs).  No neighborhood consideration list is complete without taking note of possible HOAs.  HOAs can regulate everything from the exterior appearance of your house to approved fence styles and parking cars in streets and driveways.  Understand HOA rules and learn how to get involved.
10. Greenspace.  Many municipal planning departments are now reserving greenspace to increase the livability of neighborhoods.  Greenspaces often include walking trails and nature preserves to help residents connect with the outdoors.

Are you looking for a home in Southern Oregon?

The best place to begin your journey is with an experienced real estate agent like Gail Schoeneberg.  Gail has extensive experience and knowledge, including marketing financing and buyer and seller representation in the Southern Oregon market.  She will help you determine if buying a home is the right choice for you.  And, of course, once you decide what you’re looking for, Gail will be at your side until you find the perfect new home for your family.

Contact Gail Schoeneberg today at 541-840-1909.  Your new home awaits.

It seems that anytime the Feds make a change to interest rates, alarm bells start to sound off.  “NOW’S THE TIME TO SELL!”  Many homeowners worry excessively about the impact of rising interest rates on the sales price of homes and may be encouraged to sell their homes prematurely.

I’ve been honored to be in the real estate industry for over 17 years, and I’ve seen the housing market’s ups, downs, booms, and busts.  My advice to anyone considering selling a home is “proceed with caution.”  Regardless of the recent interest rate changes, overall home values remain incredibly high because there is a lack of inventory on the market.  For potential sellers, the picture is still very rosy.

Sellers who are well prepared to market their homes continue to be quite pleased with the proceeds from the sale of their properties.  However, I’ve also recently seen many situations where a house was placed for sale due to perceived interest rate pressures, while the seller’s unique situation did not make the deal financially advantageous or necessary.

Partnering with an experienced Realtor is invaluable.  One with years of full-time experience who actively attends listing appointments and focuses on what is best for their clients instead of their own pocketbooks will provide the guidance you need to make sound financial decisions for you and your family.  For example, a qualified Realtor will know when to suggest a possible counsel with professionals such as:

• A CPA or tax professional to determine federal and state income tax implications,
• Lawn Care Maintenance or Housekeeping Services to manage their property instead of selling,
• Property Rental Management companies to manage tenants, payments, and repairs,
• Etc.

My goal is to work with each and every one of my clients to help them make the best financial decisions.  No homeowner should be caught up in the trendy mantra of “sell, sell, sell!” without considering all the facets of their individual situation.  If you are considering if it is time to sell your property, I’d be honored to help you review your situation and walk you through the sales process.  Together we can make the correct determination for you!

The first step many families make when considering a move is to downsize their belongings.  Downsizing allows you to clear out unwanted belongings from closets, drawers, and storage spaces.  Not only will downsizing make it easier to move to a new home, but it also helps to stage your home effectively if you’ll be showing it while you continue to live there.

If you’re ready to downsize, here are three techniques you can use to get it done efficiently:

1. Create a plan.  If you have the luxury to view your next home, take careful note of how much space you will have for your furniture and belongings.  However, if you haven’t selected a new home yet, you can still create a goal for how much you want to keep with you as you move out of your house.  Next, consider one room at a time and make a generalized list of what you want to keep and what needs to go.  Focusing on one room will help keep the project more manageable.
2. Start sorting.  Just like those television shows, you’ll want to go through each room and decide what to keep, sell, donate, and trash.  You can get your whole family involved in the sorting process following the plan you’ve devised.  By laying out tarps or creating piles, you can do a once-over after sorting a room to make sure you’re comfortable with the destination for all your items.  Key items to sell or donate include items you haven’t used in a few years, clothes that no longer fit, items you have duplicates of, stuff that’s still in boxes from your last move, worn-out linens, and expired foods and cosmetics.
3. List items for sale as you go.  If you’re planning to use online marketplace sites or host a garage sale, don’t wait until you’re done with the whole house before you list your sales items.  Selling a little bit as you go will make this process more manageable, too.  In fact, hosting a series of reasonably-sized garage sales rather than one massive sale at the end will make preparations for each even simpler.
4. Take the time to organize cherished memories.  Now is an excellent time to take that box of your kid’s drawings or your collection of souvenir magnets and figure out how to display your memorabilia so you and your family and friends can enjoy them.  This will help you weed through your collections to keep the items most important to you.
5. Reward yourself.  As you get rid of items that you no longer want or need, treat yourself or your family to something new that you now have room for.  If you haven’t selected your next home yet, it may be an inspirational gift such as “a new area rug for our new living room.”  These rewards will keep you motivated to keep cleaning and downsizing even after you move.

Ready to sell your Southern Oregon home?

The best place to begin your journey is with an experienced real estate agent like Gail Schoeneberg.  Gail has extensive experience and knowledge, including marketing financing and buyer and seller representation in the Southern Oregon market.  Armed with current information about home sales throughout Southern Oregon and a long list of potential homebuyers at the ready, Gail will help you make good decisions to achieve the best price for your home in the timeline you have for selling it.

Contact Gail Schoeneberg today at 541-840-1909.  Together, we’ll get your home sold.

If you’re preparing to sell your home, you’re likely considering making some home improvements to get as much as you can in its selling price.  Many home improvements will noticeably increase a home’s resale value, but it’s essential to consider your options wisely.  The last thing you want to do is complete remodels or repairs important to you, but that make little or no difference to potential buyers.

Low-Cost Improvements for a Positive Return on Investment

The best choices for home remodels or repairs to maximize the return on your investment are those that meet three criteria:

1. They are valued by potential buyers,
2. They can be completed quickly,
3. You don’t need to finance a significant amount of money to do them.

Here are seven options you might consider:

1. Repair doors and windows.  Many of today’s buyers are concerned about energy efficiency on top of the home’s curb appeal.  If your home has broken windows or windows that fog up due to broken seals, it’s well worth your money to replace them before putting your home on the market.  Other simple repairs are replacing worn-out weather stripping and repainting window trim and doors.
2. Flooring upgrades.  Carpet has become outdated as potential buyers lean towards the cleanliness of hardwood or laminate flooring.  Your home will smell and appear fresher by pulling out carpeting and installing neutral flooring throughout the house.  It’s best to select a flooring that matches the style and value of your overall home.
3. Painting.  Buyers want to envision the home as theirs, and that is easier without all the custom colors, murals, or wallpaper you selected for your home decor.  Giving all the walls a fresh coat of neutral-colored paint to match flooring and trim will make your home look new again.
4. Roof repairs.  One of the first things potential buyers from the road is a home’s roof.  Roof repairs and replacements can be expensive, and it’s not a task most homebuyers want to tackle after moving in.  If you suspect your roof may be leaking, is damaged, or needs new shingles, it will be worth the time and money to take care of it before listing your home on the market.
5. Smart technology.  One of the newest trends in homeownership is smart technology.  These devices allow homeowners to access and control everything from exterior lights and cameras to opening and closing window blinds.  Fortunately, the cost of many smart technologies has decreased in recent years, making these upgrades affordable and easy to do.
6. Bathroom fixture upgrades.  A bathroom can look years younger simply by replacing the faucets, lighting, and mirrors.  Fortunately, these are all projects within the grasp of most homeowners.  Your bathroom can take on a whole new look with a few hundred bucks.
7. Kitchen appliance replacement.  While there is no reason to spend a considerable investment on custom appliances, it is important to replace outdated or broken kitchen appliances.  Choose models that are affordable but also have a good reputation.  A quick review of Consumer Reports will help you find appliances that balance affordability and quality.

Ready to sell your Southern Oregon home?

The best place to begin your journey is with an experienced real estate agent like Gail Schoeneberg.  Gail has extensive experience and knowledge, including marketing financing and buyer and seller representation in the Southern Oregon market.  Armed with current information about home sales throughout Southern Oregon and a long list of potential homebuyers at the ready, Gail will help you make good decisions to achieve the best price for your home in the timeline you have for selling it.

Contact Gail Schoeneberg today at 541-840-1909.  Together, we’ll get your home sold.

Saving up for a down payment towards buying a home is an ambitious goal for many Americans.  While the minimum standard for many lenders is between 3% and 5%, the average goal for many homebuyers is to put 20% down.

With increasing home prices, the savings nest egg is much more substantial than in years past.  As of December 2021, the median home value in Oregon was $479,135, and purchasing a home at $500,000 with a 20% down payment would be $100,000.  Even a 3% down payment means coming up with $15,000.

Why is a down payment important?

For buyers, down payments reduce the mortgage’s outstanding balance, making a significant difference in the payment amount and the total payments over the life of the loan.  For example, purchasing a $500,000 home at 4.5% interest with a $15,000 down payment equates to a monthly payment of $2457–a total repayment of $884,671 over thirty years.  However, that same home with a $100,000 down payment would bring the monthly payment down to $2,027, and the total repayment would be $729,720–which is a savings of almost $70,000.

For lenders, a larger down payment means more equity in the home, which gives more reassurance that if the buyer fails to make payments, the lender will get their money back.  For this reason, a lender may require a slightly higher down payment to offset risks associated with non-existing or poor credit.

Also, for most conventional home loans, you will be required to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) if you put less than 20% down towards your home.  The PMI insurance protects your lender if you default on your loan.

So what can you do if you don’t have a down payment?

Not having a sizeable down payment should not dissuade you from shopping for a home.  Instead, talk with your real estate agent or your mortgage broker about your financial situation to learn about resources available in your area to assist homebuyers like you.  They will know the ins and outs of all the programs and give you sound advice to help you reach your goals.

1. FHA loans.  You may qualify for an FHA loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration.  This program offers loans with low down payments and low closing costs.  Even those with poor credit can often qualify for FHA loans.  The maximum amount of loan will depend on regionality but is geared to help medium to lower-income households afford to buy average-sized homes.
2. Fannie Mae HomeReady loans.  These loans are designed for people who can’t afford a sizeable down payment, first-time homebuyers, and homeowners looking for more affordable refinancing options.  These loans are limited to individuals with moderate to high credit scores while making no more than 80% of the median income for their areas.
3. Conventional loan with a minimum down payment.  Some lenders will approve loans for as little as 3% down.  It’s essential to ask your real estate agent or mortgage broker about options that may fit your budget and lifestyle.

Are you looking for a home in Southern Oregon?

The best place to begin your journey is with an experienced real estate agent like Gail Schoeneberg.  Gail has extensive experience and knowledge, including marketing financing and buyer and seller representation in the Southern Oregon market.  She will help you determine if buying a home is the right choice for you.  And, of course, once you decide what you’re looking for, Gail will be at your side until you find the perfect new home for your family.

Contact Gail Schoeneberg today at 541-840-1909.  Your new home awaits.

With likely increases in interest rates on the horizon, potential buyers are eager to find their dream homes.  In fact, the percentage of people desiring to purchase a home within the next six months rose from just under 5.9% in November 2021 to nearly 7.9% in January 2022.  Realtor.com reported that January 2022 experienced faster home sales than any January in our history thus far.  In the U.S., the average time a home sold in January had spent on the market was 61 days–nearly a month less than the January average of 2017-2020.

8 Tips to Get Your Home Ready for the Spring Home Selling Market

The first step in attracting a home buyer, especially in the spring home selling market, is to address your home’s exterior look and feel.  As the weather transitions from the cold and dreary days of winter to the sun-filled days of spring, there are many ways you can prepare your home to achieve a faster sale.

1. Inspect your roof.  Now is an excellent time to make sure your roof is in good condition.  Schedule a thorough cleaning to remove leaves, tree needles, moss, and other debris from the shingles and gutters.  Fix any problems or leaks in the gutters, including drainage to wastewater management systems or natural runoff solutions.  Trim shrubs and trees that have grown too close to the roof to keep animals and other pests from traveling from plants to roof.
2. Clean the siding.  Carefully powerwash the home’s siding to remove dirt and grime.  Look for any patches that require touch-up paint, especially the trim around doors and windows.  At the same time, power wash any fencing to get rid of mud and dirt that collected over the rainy season.
3. Revitalize shrubs and trees.  Contact a local arborist to inspect the trees and schedule a healthy trim for them and any shrubs on your property.  Well-maintained plants don’t just look nice but will also grow more robust in the future.
4. Powerwash hardscape surfaces.  Driveways, walkways, and patio surfaces collect dirt in crevasses throughout the year.  Give all these surfaces a good power washing and then seal them with appropriate materials from your local hardware store.
5. Wash the windows.  Give all the windows a thorough cleaning inside and out.  Look for any issues that need repair, include weatherstrip replacement, and replace any windows that have lost their seal (resulting in internal condensation.)
6. Conduct a pest inspection.  It’s better to find pests and remove them before potential buyers do.  Hire a pest control specialist to inspect around your home, under the foundation, and inside the attic.  Perform procedures necessary to eliminate and prevent bugs and rodents from your home and property.
7. Inspect the lights.  Ensure all the exterior lights are working correctly, and replace faulty or old bulbs.  Consider adding new yard lights, fountain lights, or extra electrical outlets that buyers may find appealing and increase functionality.
8. Add flowers to your landscaping.  Bright pops of color throughout your yard will give your home a pleasant appearance.  While the best flowers for your yard will depend on your specific region, some common early Spring flowers include pansies, daffodils, primroses, irises, tulips, and grape hyacinth.  Potential homebuyers are often excited to see bulb flowers because they know they’ll enjoy the same flowers year after year.

Ready to sell your Southern Oregon home?

The best place to begin your journey is with an experienced real estate agent like Gail Schoeneberg.  Gail has extensive experience and knowledge, including marketing financing and buyer and seller representation in the Southern Oregon market.  Armed with current information about home sales throughout Southern Oregon and a long list of potential homebuyers at the ready, Gail will help you make good decisions to achieve the best price for your home in the timeline you have for selling it.

Contact Gail Schoeneberg today at 541-840-1909.  Together, we’ll get your home sold.

When the weather is gray, and the temperatures are chilly, it can be more challenging to sell a home.  Even achieving curbside appeal can be difficult since many plants are dormant and flower beds are yet to be filled.  The good news is that it is a seller’s market right now, but regardless of those advantages, there are a few more things you can do to make your home attractive to potential buyers and sell your home in the winter.

5 Tips to Sell Your Home in the Winter

1. Set the right temperature.  This is especially important if you’re not currently residing in the home while it’s on the market.  Resist leaving the thermostat at too cool of a temperature because walking into a cold home can leave potential buyers feeling uncomfortable.  Instead, either invest in a “smart home” thermostat that you can control remotely to warm up the home when visitors will be expected, or keep the indoor temperature between 69 to 72F during daytime hours.  It’s essential buyers can imagine walking out of the cold, dreary weather and into your warm, cozy home.
2. Remove holiday decorations.  Selling a home during the winter can be challenging because your family may also be celebrating a number of holidays.  Potential buyers need to see your home as theirs, so eliminating holiday decorations–both religious and secular–will give your home a more neutral ambiance.
3. Increase the cleaning regimen.  Many elements make homes dirtier in the winter.  With rain and snow come mud and dirt.  Fallen leaves and needles stick to shoes.  And when the family spends more time indoors, dust and grime accumulate faster.  Give your home an extra once over every week to make sure it looks spotless for potential buyers.
4. Double-check your lighting fixtures.  Less sunshine and fewer daylight hours mean your home will be darker inside (and outside) than in the late spring and summer months.  Examine all the lights within the interior and exterior of your home to ensure they are all in good working order.  At the same time, replace bulbs as necessary, so they have a consistent light output (all bright white or all soft white, for example).  If you have older bulbs that take a few minutes to “warm-up,” replace those with newer styles that are energy efficient but light to full capacity immediately.
5. Remember the importance of curb appeal.  Keep your landscaping maintained by cutting the grass regularly, treating it with winter fertilizer, sweeping and blowing pathways and the driveway, and trimming trees and shrubs neatly.  Visit your local home improvement or landscaping center to find cool weather flowers that can be either planted in beds or in coordinated planter boxes.  This is also a perfect time to install outdoor yard lighting to illuminate walkways and focal points.

Your real estate agent will have good advice for you about pricing your home.  Depending on current market conditions, home sales might slow down during the winter, and pricing a home more competitively may result in faster sales.  However, with 2022 continuing the trend of being a seller’s market, trust in the information your agent has about home sales and negotiated prices in your specific area.

Ready to sell your Southern Oregon home?

The best place to begin your journey is with an experienced real estate agent like Gail Schoeneberg.  Gail has extensive experience and knowledge, including marketing financing and buyer and seller representation in the Southern Oregon market.  Armed with current information about home sales throughout Southern Oregon and a long list of potential homebuyers at the ready, Gail will help you make good decisions to achieve the best price for your home in the timeline you have for selling it.

Contact Gail Schoeneberg today at 541-840-1909.  Together, we’ll get your home sold.

Searching for a home in Southern Oregon is an exciting time in our lives.  Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or moving to a new community, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment.  Setting your dream wish list aside and compiling a list of criteria based on realistic goals will help to ensure you choose the best investment for your family.  One of the first considerations is whether or not this is the right time to purchase a home.

If you’re thinking about a new home, consider these important items:

1. Your current expenses.  Your home will likely be the most expensive purchase you make, and you will be responsible for the payment for 15 to 30 years.  It’s essential to map out all expenses you regularly incur every month–from credit card payments to grocery bills, medical expenses, mobile phone plans, and estimated utility costs such as cable, internet, and electricity.  Perform an honest comparison of the costs to your income to determine how much room you have for a mortgage payment.  This is an excellent first step to seeing how much home you can afford.
2. Your job outlook.  Are you new to the job, or do you have seniority?  Do you work in a stable industry or one that regularly experiences slowdowns or layoffs?  Do you enjoy your occupation, or are you considering moving into a new field?  All of these questions will help you decide whether your current income stream will be consistent or if you should be financially flexible to withstand future changes.
3. A down payment.  Putting a substantial down payment on a home will dramatically impact the monthly payment amount as well as the total amount you will pay for the loan over its lifetime.  Your real estate agent or mortgage loan representative can help you see the impact down payments of different amounts can make on both.
4. How long you will stay.  Before purchasing a home, it’s important to consider how long you plan to stay in an area.  Buying and selling a home quickly after that can have adverse tax consequences, so sometimes renting is a better option.  Typically it’s best to commit to staying in a home for two years before reselling it.
5. The economy.  It’s better to buy a home when it’s a buyer’s market, but it’s hard to control how many homes are available at the specific time you need to find a home.  It’s also easier to buy a home affordably when interest rates are low, although low-interest rates will often mean home prices are higher.

Are you looking for a home in Southern Oregon?

The best place to begin your journey is with an experienced real estate agent like Gail Schoeneberg.  Gail has extensive experience and knowledge, including marketing financing and buyer and seller representation in the Southern Oregon market.  She will help you determine if buying a home is the right choice for you.  And, of course, once you decide what you’re looking for, Gail will be at your side until you find the perfect new home for your family.

Contact Gail Schoeneberg today at 541-840-1909.  Your new home awaits.

Home prices are one of the most visible examples of the principles of supply and demand at work in our economy.  In short, supply and demand dictate that when supply is abundant, prices go down to generate greater demand. When demand outpaces supply, prices rise to reduce the number of buyers interested or eligible in the product.  Each force reacts to the other to achieve a balance.

How do interest rates affect supply and demand?

Lower home prices generate consumer interest, and many buyers seek loans.  Greater demand for loans raises interest rates.  Consequently, interest rates fall when demand decreases to help motivate consumers to shop for homes.  The Federal Reserve Board (“the Feds”) works to curb rising home prices (a significant factor in overall inflation) by raising interest rates.  Theoretically, fewer people will shop for homes if loans are more expensive, and prices will decrease.

According to the New York Times on January 5, 2022, the Feds project they will raise interest rates three times in 2022 to stem inflation by making borrowing for many types of large purchases (like homes) more expensive, thus weakening demand.  Less demand should lead to a reduction in home prices.  Economists and investors forecast the interest rate increases could begin as early as March.

But will rising interest rates work to lower home prices in our current economy?

Some interesting factors in our current economy might throw a curveball or two in this typical process.

1. Investment companies are purchasing significant numbers of homes nationwide.  While more investment activities occur in larger urban cities, investors seek homes to fill housing needs for everything from multi-family housing units to Air B&B vacation rentals.  These investments are usually cash offers, so changes in lending rates have no impact on the demand.
2. Younger generations are receiving inheritances as baby boomers pass on.  We’ve predicted sweeping numbers of retirements and deaths as the baby boomer generation (born 1946 to 1964) ages. Pew Research reported that the number of baby boomers had declined so much that in July 2019, the number of millennials surpassed them.  Significant assets are trickling down to their children, many of whom use the cash to purchase homes.  The changes in interest rates may minimally impact those with cash offers or large down payments from this group.
3. Trends towards working and shopping from home are increasing the importance of home for families.  Before the pandemic, Americans spent most of their days away from home:  at work, school, restaurants, the mall, and movie theaters.  Now, people are finding they are spending more time than ever at home, and having a comfortable place to work, learn, and recreate is more critical than ever.  Many of these homebuyers are unphased by higher interest rates because they will pay a premium for having their needs met.
4. There’s an unbelievable shortage of housing in Oregon.  Between pandemic-related shutdowns and scarcity of materials, fewer homes are available on the market.  During the 2022 Housing Economic Summit on January 13, Oregon Representative Julie Fahey said, “The root cause of our housing crisis is the lack of supply.”  Even with legislative help, experts feel the shortage will not be overcome for at least a year or two.  That means that regardless of changes to the interest rate, there will still be more demand than supply throughout the immediate future.

As a result, many experts are skeptical about how rising interest rates will affect home prices.  If anything, they feel the assistance from the Federal Reserve combined with post-pandemic recovery is expected to ease the craziness of the home buying market.  We shouldn’t see the nearly 20% increase in home prices as we did from April 2020 to April 2021.  In 2022, we’re more likely to see a stabilization of prices rather than a decrease.

If you’re considering buying or selling a home in 2022, contact me today to get started.  Investing in your home is an important event for your family, and I have the expertise you need to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.  Let’s talk about your goals and build a plan to achieve them together!

It’s nearly spring and if you’re not already making a list to keep your home in top-notch shape, these spring maintenance tips might help.

Clean the Kitchen and Bathroom

Kitchens and bathrooms have a likelihood of developing mold or mildew. Clean them out because you do not want those to spread under any circumstances.

Check for Any Gaps in Seals

Gaps can occur in window and door seals, so check periodically to make sure you don’t have any of these.

Clean Vents

Your home will have vents for air conditioning, laundry machines, and more. Take the time to clean these out so they don’t get clogged.

Inspect Your Fire Extinguishers

If there’s a fire emergency in your home, you will certainly want to be prepared, and the best way is to make sure your fire extinguishers are working properly, and also make sure everyone in the home can properly use them.

Inspect Your Refrigerator

Your fridge may need their coils cleaned if they accumulate too much dust. This would result in it a decrease in efficiency of a very important household appliance.

Inspect Your Water Heater

Your water heater usually puts in a lot of effort to give you hot water, so you should return the favor by doing regular checkups on is health. The last thing you want is a faulty water heater.

Deep-Clean Rugs and Carpets

You likely vacuum them from time to time, but sometimes they need a deeper cleaning to get everything out.

Inspect Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors

These devices are crucial to your family’s safety, so take the time to ensure that they are working properly and have fresh batteries.

Have a Yard Sale

You might accumulate a lot of objects in your home, and soon you might have items you don’t need anymore. Consider having a yard sale to free up space and get rid of some clutter.

Inspect Your Lawn Mower

Depending on your yard, you’ll likely have a lawn mower. This machine also needs maintenance from time to time, such as checking the oil and sharpening the blade to make sure it is working efficiently.

Have a Roof Inspection

Your roof is one of the most important parts of your house, so you should take great care in making sure it’s doing its job properly. A poorly kept roof could spell big trouble later on.

Touch Up Paint

The elements can do a number on your house’s paint job over time, so check to make sure there aren’t any spots that have worn too much or cracked, and do a touch-up if necessary.

Remove Any Undesirable Flora

Trees and bushes can grow a lot. You’ll want to make sure no branches or trees themselves pose a threat to your property, and also be aware of weeds or bushes in hard to reach areas.

Inspect Your Fence for Damage

If you have a fence, you’ll want to check it for damage from any wildlife or the elements, or even accidental neighbor damage.

Inspect Your Driveway

Driveways can develop cracks over time. Keep an eye on it and address the issue before it can get out of hand.

Contact Me for More Help With Spring Home Maintenance Tips

I’m available for more help so just give me a call if you need more assistance.