Save Money with Home Maintenance

It's easy to overlook home maintenance. After all, most of us subscribe to the old adage "if it isn't broke - don't fix it." Unfortunately, your home doesn't exist in a glass bubble. Instead it is exposed to you and your family, climate conditions, outdoor vegetation, pets and a variety of other elements that cause areas to slowly degrade. You can skip the maintenance, but at some point you will be faced with a hefty repair bill that could have been avoided with some basic maintenance steps.

Avoid Roof Repairs: Roofs are a costly expense, but you can minimize the likelihood that your roof will spring a leak or need to be replaced in the near future.

• Clear Debris: Clean all debris off your roof including leaves, branches and anything else that lands up there. Debris can hold water, which quickens roof deterioration
• Get Rid of Algae: If algae or moss is growing on your roof, clean it off and consider applying zinc control along shingle ridges.
• Ventilate Your Attic: Adding ventilation to your attic helps preserve the roof by reducing the temperature beneath the roof. You can hire a contractor to add vents to your attic or, if you're handy, it can be a weekend project that you do yourself.

Make Your Lawn a Priority: Many homeowners consider mowing their lawn to be the only necessary maintenance; however, neglecting your grass can lead to problems down the road.

• Mow Your Grass Higher: Its tempting to go for the close shave when you mow your lawn, but slightly longer grass reduces water loss, prevents more weeds from growing and strengthens the roots of your grass.
• Skip Fertilizer When it's Hot: Avoid using lawn fertilizer in the summer because grass is already taxed merely trying to survive in the heat. Fertilizer can have damaging effects when your lawn is too weak to handle new growth.

Clean Filters: Filters in your furnace and air conditioner need to be kept clean, otherwise you may find yourself roasting the summer and freezing in the winter.

• Change AC Filters: Change the filter in your air conditioner before summer begins and you start using it. Also make sure to change it once every few months while it is in use. Ensure that the exterior of the unit is clean of shrubs, mildew and dirt as well.

Basic home maintenance can save you thousands of dollars every year.

If you're in the East Lansing or Greater Lansing areas of Michigan and are thinking about buying or selling your home, please contact me at MyRealtorRob.