After a long, cold winter, is there anything better than the first official day of spring? How about a series of new home improvement projects to celebrate? Okay, maybe this isn’t your idea of fun, but it is an important part of being a homeowner. If you’re not sure where to start now that the season has changed, we have a few suggestions.
Out with the Exterior
Your home’s exterior probably bore the brunt of damage this past winter, so now’s the time to give it a little attention. Start with a thorough cleaning of your windows and siding, either on your own or with professional help. You can take advantage of a nice day and simply rinse most of the dirt and grime off with your garden hose. Just use this time to inspect your home’s exterior, too.
If you notice any cracks, discoloration, gaps, or warping, then you may need to call an experienced contractor. Depending on the extent of the damage, you could potentially repair the problem(s) or end up with all-new replacements. Fortunately, these types of home improvement could save you more in the long run! Not only could these upgrades reduce your monthly utility bills, but they could also improve your resale value.
Service your HVAC
Spring is one of those transition times that really wears on your heating and cooling system(s). Especially because the weather is so hard to anticipate! Will temperatures remain cool? Will they quickly warm up? Will we go back and forth over the next couple of months? Honestly, no one really knows at this point. It’s best just to prepare for any and all of the above. We recommend at least turning your air conditioning on to test it, after a little dusting and filter replacement. To really clean your ductwork, though, you may need professional help.
Allowing the experts to handle this particular task can improve your HVAC’s efficiency, as well. From both an energy usage standpoint, as well as on the air quality side. Be sure to compare these maintenance costs with the overall age of your system. For older models, you may decide that a replacement is more cost effective. But, it’s better to take care of that now than during the hot summer months.
Things are Looking Up
Not just in terms of temperatures, but also for your home improvement. You can’t forget about your roof and gutters, after all! Before the spring rains come, be on the lookout for missing shingles, clogged gutters, or other issues that could contribute to water damage throughout the season. If you don’t feel comfortable climbing up and handling these tasks on your own, just contact your local professionals. Don’t risk an injury for the sake of maintenance matters.
As you work through these and other springtime home improvement projects, try to keep your insurance agent in the loop! At Freedom Insurance Agency, we’re not just here to deal with claims and problems. We also want to know what’s going on to keep your coverage up-to-date. For example, if you have many contractors visiting your property, you’ll need sufficient liability coverage. Or if you significantly increase the value of your home with recent renovations, we’ll want to make sure your homeowners’ insurance reflects this new number. Feel free to contact us anytime with your questions!
