Mid- to late-summer is a perfect time to get your home and property not only prepped for the upcoming cooler weather in a few months but also tidied up after several months of hot, dry, smoky weather. Remember the 2-4 rule of homeownership: Do two things, four times a year (each season): clean up each season’s dirt and grime, and prep for the next season by checking for wear and tear. You might not find anything to repair, but wouldn’t you like to know that last spring’s final storm caused a few roof tiles to come loose, or if those falling leaves plugged your gutters BEFORE the next rainy season comes along?
What are the summer issues you might find when you do the 2-4 check in the summer? Dirty exterior surfaces that dull a home’s color and sparkle, clogged gutters or roof damage left from last spring, and damage due to rodents or other animals trying to escape the summer heat by finding a nice shady spot under your home, or in the eaves or roof tiles (mice, bats, wasp nests, etc.)
Exterior power-washing of your home (depending on material) can go a long way to keeping your home looking its best.
If you find evidence of rodents or other pests taking up residence within or under your home, call a professional. Removal can be easy for a trained trapper or exterminator and exhausting and dangerous for a homeowner who does not have proper tools or gear. If they’ve caused damage or are living under your home or in crawl spaces, now is the time to fix it – not in the winter when rain has arrived.
As far as roofs go, don’t be like most people and wait until the rains come to find out if your roof is damaged; a new roof can take several weeks to complete so get your appointments made now.
Spend a summer morning doing a walk-around inspection, and then schedule a roof or crawl-space inspection and give your home’s facade a wash. You won’t regret it.
Questions about your home or other insurance-related issues? Give Matich Vukovich a call at 209-223-4040.