Now is a smart time to pay attention to protecting your home from big storms, high winds and the cold weather.
As an experienced local agent, I can quickly tell which homes have been maintained diligently and those left to their own devices. When it’s time to sell, owners can patch or even hide problems, but the reality is these issues diminish the home’s value.
Below are some actions that will protect your property and its market value from the ravages of high winds, winter storms and icy conditions.
- Foundations – Storms and floodwater will test your foundations. If you’re concerned about the base of your home, organize an inspection by a structural engineer. They’ll tell you if any part of the building needs repair or reinforcement. This can be expensive but not as costly as a corner of your home sliding into the front yard.
- Guttering – Guttering should be attached with screws. If gutters are nailed in, be aware they’ll take a beating in storms, high winds and temperature differences and work themselves free over the years. Not all guttering is the same, so select a style to handle heavy rains or snow. And clean them regularly of leaves and twigs as this litter promotes rust and wood rot, and causes overflow into your roof.
- Tree trouble – Maintain a keen eye on trees near your home. Branches that overhang your roof are a problem waiting to happen. Use the services of a tree surgeon or arborist to identify and mitigate any risk of damage from trees either in your yard or those next door.
- Termite terrors – Vigilance is also needed when it comes to checking for potential termite action. Those little critters can eat away supporting timbers. And when the big storms come, they’ll be useless in ensuring structural integrity. Pay careful attention to timbers inside the home, as well as windows, decking and the garage. If you spot a problem, it could be the tip of the iceberg.
- Loose debris – With a storm coming, remove any debris around the garden and store or tie-down furniture, the barbeque and anything else that might get picked up in high winds and thrown in any direction.