Summer: With its bright sun and hot temperatures, its many Southern Utah residents’ favorite time of year… but not for all! The end of summer brings cooler temperatures and beautiful fall colors. Before you get out your jacket and fully embrace the beginning of autumn, here are a few things you should be doing around your home to keep it in good shape.
Check Your Alarms And Emergency Equipment
It’s important to make sure that everything around your home is ready before an emergency—not after! Take some time at the end of summer to go around your home and test all of your equipment.
It is recommended that you check your smoke alarm monthly. Doing so is quick and easy: All you have to do is press a button! You should also be changing the batteries in your alarm every six months. This simple check can give you some peace of mind that everything will be okay in the event of a fire.
As well, you should also be checking your carbon monoxide detector—at the same rate! Test monthly and replace the batteries every six months. It’s advisable to check both of these alarm systems at the same time so that you don’t forget!
If you have a first aid kit in your home or a fire extinguisher (both of which are recommended if you do not already have one!), then you should check to make sure that each of these items are both easily accessible and working effectively. For a first aid kit, that means keeping it well-stocked and replacing anything that you may have used. A fire extinguisher has an expiration date—make sure that yours doesn’t have to be replaced!
Take Note Of Your Home’s Exterior
Another important home maintenance tip for the end of summer is taking a look at the exterior and ensuring that everything looks A-Ok!
This means things like drafty or broken windows, roof tiles that may need to be replaced, and other forms of typical wear and tear for your home. If your property is older, then you’ll likely find more and more things that need to be fixed or replaced—but all homes require constant care and attention.
Take the time to fix gaps in caulking or nail down a loose piece of wood on your deck. These things, when left alone for too long, can develop into bigger (and more costly!) problems!
Sometimes you may notice that you have a home repair that is too difficult for you to fix with just some paint or a couple of nails. In this case, calling a professional will be necessary—and the end of summer is the perfect time to do it, as these things may get significantly worse by spring.
Prevent The Big Problems
Following along with repairs, sometimes you are able to prevent problems before they actually happen.
For example, those with large lawns and mature trees will anticipate having to deal with all the leaves on their grass. Take the time now to get ready for this by getting your equipment ready, or purchasing new tools if you don’t have them already. Keeping leaves on your lawn can be detrimental to the health of your grass… but sticking them in plastic bags can also be bad for the environment. Ideally, you should be breaking up the leaves into mulch with a lawn mower—it’s great for your grass!
Cleaning out your air filters is another one of those things that we might not consider doing, but it makes a big difference! The end of summer and beginning of fall is a great time for you to clean this, as dirt, pollen, and other debris will have gotten trapped there during the warmest months. It’s good to breathe easy!
Selling? Think About Getting Your Home Ready!
If you’re thinking about selling your home in the spring, the early fall is a great time to start to get organized… so that you’re not too overwhelmed! For all of your home selling needs, Ellis & Company Real Estate is here to help! Our Southern Utah home experts will guide you through every step of the process—it’s easy! Contact us today for more information.
Posted by David Ellis on
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