Maintaining Your Home

 

That means 6 months of on-time mortgage payments. 6 months of pure, unadulterated homeownership!

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Congratulations, that’s a big deal.

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Here are some helpful tips to consider, that may save you from damaging your home:

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Storing Household Goods in the Attic and Garage.  Garage and attic trusses are designed to support the weight of the roof and ceiling and not much else. But many homeowners view this space as perfect for extra storage. Adding too much weight, however, might result in sagging or even a collapse of the roof structure. If you want to use this space for storage, consult a structural engineer in advance to see if additional reinforcements are needed.

 

Altering Finished Grades.  Perhaps you want to add a patio or walkway — or some additional trees or landscaping — to your new home. In doing so, you might disrupt the drainage system around your home and cause water to flow back toward the house.

 

Allowing Sprinkler Heads to Spray Against the Home.  Sprinkler heads that spray against your house can lead to rotted walls, leaching of color from the exterior walls or even movement of the foundation. Direct all sprinkler heads away from the home — and check them regularly to make sure they haven’t turned.

 

Failing to Use Bathroom and Laundry Vent Fans.  Bathrooms and laundry rooms typically have high humidity. Fans should always be used in these rooms to avoid getting water vapor into your drywall, electrical outlets and framing.

 

Walking on the Roof. Not only is walking on the roof dangerous, but untrained persons can break or scuff the roof covering and cause roof leaks. Gutter maintenance should always be done from a ladder, not the top of the roof. Many residential warranties exclude damage resulting from unauthorized persons walking on a roof.

 

Overloading Upper Kitchen Cabinets.  Lower cabinets rest on the floor, but upper kitchen cabinets are hung from the walls. While it might be tempting to store extra sets of dishes in upper cabinets, this added weight could load the cabinet beyond its capacity and lead to sagging shelves or even detachment of the cabinet from the wall.

 

Finally, your property insurance won’t pay for routine maintenance and repairs, so it’s important to set aside money in savings for items that wear out or unexpected things that break.  It’s time to review your insurance coverage to see what exactly is covered and what your deductible is for these events. Not all insurance is the same. Some include coverage for flood damage and some don’t. Some cover fire damage and some don’t. Plan to take a few minutes over the weekend and check for common coverages such as the following:

• Flood Coverage

• Fire Coverage

• Natural Disasters (hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes)