As we turn the corner, we discover that fall is once again upon us. This means shorter days, a chill in the air, and time to do some preventative maintenance on your home. Conducting a thorough inspection of your home once a season can help save you time and money in the future. Here are some great maintenance tips to help keep your home beautiful, healthy, and happy.

General Home Tips

• Change the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Clean dryer vents, exhaust fans and vents in the bathrooms and kitchens.
• Change all of the household filters, including water filters and the filter in your AC/heating units.
• Trim all bushes and trees away from your home. Trees should be at least 6 feet away and bushes at least 6 inches away.
• Turn off AC Unit.
• Seal exterior concrete (driveway).

Chimney and Fireplace

• If you use your wood fireplace on a regular basis, it should be inspected and cleaned each year. If you have a gas fireplace with ceramic logs, it should be serviced if you see soot on the logs or the glass.

Gutters and Downspouts

• Clean gutters and downspouts frequently throughout the fall to prevent buildup of leaves and other debris.
• Neglected gutters can lead to wood rot problems, pest infestations, wet basements, foundation damage and many other expensive complications.
• Be sure water is not coming down behind gutters and that all support brackets are securely in place.
• Check to ensure water drains completely, and away from the foundation, driveways and walkways. Downspout extensions may also be required so damage does not occur.
• The installation of heat tape can be helpful in preventing ice dams. Make sure the heat tape is plugged in and working properly.

Heating Systems

• Most people don’t remember when the last time was that they had their heating system serviced. To ensure optimal performance, have a heating professional check your system to make sure it is operating correctly and most efficiently. This can prevent you and your family costly repair bills in the future.
• Replace the filter in your furnace.
• Check for leaks around the duct joints. Most home inspectors frequently find disconnected ducts that are blowing warm air into crawlspaces or attics.

Plumbing

• If you have any faucets that produce icy cold water in the winter, these pipes may be in danger of freezing. Consider having these pipes insulated to protect them.
• Disconnect all garden hoses. Even frost proof spigots will freeze if the garden hose holds water in the pipe.

Windows and Doors

• Check around the window frames inside and out for potential leaks. Caulk any visible gaps.
• Inspect and repair any loose or damaged window locks, latches or doorframes.
• Check around all exterior doors for gaps. If it’s sunny, look for daylight around the door. Install weather-stripping to prevent drafts and lower heating bills.
• If you have older windows, check around those for gaps and weather-strip as needed.

Click for more home maintenance information & instructional videos

The Olympus

The Olympus is October’s featured home plan. It’s a 3509 (total) sq. ft. two-story home with a great floor plan.  

Click here for complete floor plan and square footage information

Image Gallery

(Click on Image Gallery then click the Virtual Tour under Olympus Home Plan for images.)

Make sure to check out our website for more great Home Plans!

Owning vs. Renting Your Home

The Benefits of owning a home versus renting one:

• Property and mortgage interest tax deductions that can save you thousands of dollars.
• Build equity instead of giving your money away to rental companies.
• With an annual increase in rental payments at an average of 5%, your rent payment could end up costing you more monthly than a mortgage payment.  
• The longer you are in your home, the more equity your property builds.
• A better sense of security, community, and stability in a home.
• Most of all, it’s all up to you what you do with your home, inside and out. Finally.

You choose.

In the end, there really is no place like home. Despite the positive financial aspects of homeownership, a home cannot be valued in monetary terms alone because it is so much more than just an investment. It can be a steppingstone to greater financial security and provides a permanent place to call home with great personal satisfaction. Homeownership is a cornerstone of the American way of life and we hope we can be a part of that.

Link to full article

More Information

Beginning in October 2011, Nilson Homes will be issuing a monthly email newsletter. It will contain articles about the ins and outs of building a home, home plans, videos, links, and a seasonal section.

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