Spring Maintenance for Seasonal Home Sales

In many areas across the country, home sales lag when the cold dark winter comes to call. But with the warmer temperatures of spring upon us, it is time to put some thought into preparing your home before you prepare to sell it this season. Depending on the climate in your area, it’s possible that your home or yard have sustained some kind of damage from the cold, stormy winter weather that could prevent you from getting that easy sell that you’re looking for.

There are issues that you can look for yourself, both outside and inside your home; but don’t be afraid to enlist the help of a home inspector if you aren’t sure about what you find though. A home inspector will be able to point out any maintenance issues that could possibly cause problems with potential buyers.

Most problems that you will be looking for when you do your spring inspection will be related to water or wind damage, depending on your climate.

• Check for standing water in your yard that could indicate failed drainage lines. Improper yard drainage can also lead to flooding in your home, so take time to check for moisture in your basement or crawlspace.
• Another area that can need some upkeep after winter damage is plants. If the weather in your area has been particularly harsh you may need to spend some time replacing or pruning trees and shrubs in your yard. Heavy snows can damage trees and create an ugly hazard with broken branches or other damage; talk to an expert if you are unsure how to rectify the problem best for the particular type of trees that you have.
• Though it’s unlikely that your home would suffer roof damage during the winter that you wouldn’t notice until the spring, sometimes a particularly stormy, wet spring can cause damage to your roof and result in water damage inside your home. It is a good idea to clean up any leafy debris from your roof and gutters so that rain can drain off your roof unimpeded; standing water on a roof can seep into your home and cause serious damage. Take the time to check out your attic, if you have one, to ensure that there is no water seepage.

When you’re trying to sell your home, the more proactive that you can be about finding and making repairs before putting your home on the market, the easier you can sell it. Get ready for the prime real estate seasons by making your home inviting for buyers!

by:
Jamie Mathwig