Your Annual Home Maintenance Checklist
A home is one of the biggest investments most people make. For many, it’s the foundation upon which their life revolves. That’s why it’s so important to properly care for your property.
One of the best ways to do that is to make sure you’re keeping up with maintenance. That can be tough. When did you last clean the gutters? How old is your roof? This annual home maintenance checklist is the ultimate guide to making sure you’ve checked all the boxes for each season. Start here:
Fall Nesting
At the end of a warm, wonderful fall, it’s important to look ahead to an unforgiving winter. Now is the time to address any outdoor concerns before cold weather makes winterizing the exterior of your home impossible. Complete these 10 tasks before the weather turns:
- Winterize your pool.
- Inspect your roof for leaks.
- Make sure gutters aren’t loose or sagging.
- Winterize your garage.
- Drain and cover pipes.
- Paint exteriors as needed.
- Drain and store hoses and sprinkler heads.
- Dry and store outdoor furniture.
- Clean and store tools.
- Clean out boats — air out life jackets, fill the tank with a fuel stabilizer, and spray the engine with oil to prevent rust.
Winter Burrowing
Texas winters may not be as extreme as some northern ones, but you never know when the temperature is going to drop faster than a roller coaster. Before the holidays hit, carefully examine the inside of your home and complete these 10 tasks:
Wrapping up indoors:
- Check your insulation.
- Dial up your thermostat to above 65 degrees.
- Add fresh caulk and seal up cracks and holes.
- Check weatherstripping around windows and door frames.
- Inspect window frames for rot or decay and check the glass for cracks, gaps, and broken areas, and replace or repair.
Warming up safely:
- Make sure fireplaces and chimneys are safe.
- Make sure fire safety measures are in place.
- Inspect your water heater.
- Store generators outside the house.
- Use caution with electric blankets.
Spring Fever
The return of warm weather brings the perfect time to open up windows and reset. Celebrate the renewal of spring by checking off these 10 steps:
- Inspect your roof.
- Clean the gutters.
- Fill low areas of your yard.
- Sweep the chimney.
- Test outdoor faucets.
- Schedule an A/C checkup.
- Test smoke detectors and replace batteries.
- Seal windows and doors.
- Store firewood away from the home.
- Replace worn window screens.
Summertime Madness
From wild weather to heat to invading critters, summers can hold a lot of surprises. Ready your home with the following 10 steps:
- Keep your roof in perfect shape.
- Do some spring-cleaning.
- Ensure proper water drainage.
- Inspect your foundation.
- Protect against drought.
- Keep pests out.
- Join the war on termites.
- Check your attic for visitors.
- Brush off your lawn equipment.
- Clean out the pool.
Year-Round Coverage
Just as the seasons change, insurance needs change over time. Perhaps you added on to your property or purchased a new vehicle. Maybe you bought the tractor or boat you’ve been saving up for. There’s a good chance that when you did, the last thing on your mind was insurance.
According to Brandon Willis, a Texas Farm Bureau Insurance agency manager in Mason, Agents should check in at least every year for a 360 Review to make sure their members’ current policies are still adequate. “We make it a point as a company to sit with each of our members to make sure we are covering all of their needs,” he says. “We want to say ahead of life changes.”
Find out how your recent life changes could affect your insurance needs.
Coverage and discounts are subject to qualifications and policy terms and may vary by situation. © 2019 Texas Farm Bureau Insurance
