Spring has finally arrived! While most of us are staying at home for the time being, our spring cleaning to-do lists may be a bit more extensive than usual. With plenty of extra time to prepare for the coming seasons, we have a few ideas for making your home shine, while also making sure you’re protected from the seasonal changes that can sometimes cause issues for homeowners.
Check off your indoor cleaning and maintenance list
A rainy spring day is the perfect time to tackle your spring cleaning and maintenance checklist for inside the home. Take the time to vacuum, dust, mop and scrub surfaces room by room. Organize and put away your winter clothes and items, and pull out your summer gear. If there are items you no longer need, go through them and set them aside to donate or sell in the future. Organize your papers and shred and recycle what you no longer need. While you’re doing some organizing, update your home inventory (or create one if you don’t have one yet). A complete home inventory is very helpful in the event of a homeowners insurance claim.
Now that your home is organized and clean, take some time to go through your home maintenance checklist, especially the items that keep your family safe and lower your expenses over time. Check electrical outlets and cords for potential fraying or damage that could cause a fire hazard. Make sure your fire extinguisher is still in working condition. Inspect all of your smoke detectors to be sure their batteries are charged and they are working properly.
Get the outside of your home in shape
Get to work on the outside of your home while the weather is pleasant. Get started by clearing debris out of your gutters and ensuring that downspouts are positioned far enough from your home to avoid damaging your foundation (about 6 feet). Also be sure to check your roof for any damage from snow or ice – making repairs early can prevent leaks.
Inspect the trees on your lot for signs of damage or rot. Dead trees could blow over during high wind and damage your home, so take steps to remove any that look unhealthy. Trim healthy trees away from utility wires. This is also a great time to check on your mower and other lawn equipment – do they need to be tuned up? Make sure any fuel for your equipment is stored in a safe, locked and well-ventilated area.
Check for any issues that need to be addressed
As you work on your home, keep an eye out for any issues that need to be addressed or repaired. Take a look at your windows and doors, checking for any damage or holes in screens that could let unwanted visitors (like insects!) into your home. Check your driveway for cracks left by winter weather that could become safety hazards. Changes in weather can also cause cracks in a home’s foundation leading to water damage, so do a check for any gaps you may need to get filled.
Take steps to repair any damage or get possible problems inspected by a professional before they worsen or become more critical due to warmer weather and other seasonal changes.
Get ready for the summer heat
You don’t want to find out you have air conditioning issues on the first hot day of the summer, so check your system now to make sure it’s ready to go before warmer weather hits. Inspect the unit for animal nests, damage or debris. Get the unit cleaned professionally or do it yourself carefully, avoiding damage to the coils or the condensing unit. Next, try turning on the air conditioning. If your house cools quickly, you should be in good shape for the summer season. Don’t forget to change your furnace filter to keep your system running efficiently and minimize fire hazards.
Make sure your home insurance policy is up to date
The last thing you can do to prepare yourself for the warmer season ahead is to make sure your home insurance policy is providing all of the coverage you might need. Spring is the season of severe storms, so make sure your policy will cover you in the event of weather-related damage. Many policies do not cover damage caused by floods, for example, but you can purchase coverage separately for those events. Another thing to consider is that home values and repair costs increase over time – so it’s important to check your policy at least once a year to make sure the coverage you have is still the right amount of coverage for you.
Have questions about your coverage? Looking for the right homeowners insurance policy? Please contact us or fill out the form below. We’re here to help. Happy Spring!
