Maintenance Tips for Homeowners in Boston

Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a small landlord/ investor, being a homeowner in Boston isn’t easy. In fact, it’s a lot of hard work. A key difference from renting is that you’re responsible for making sure that everything is in good working order. The days of calling someone else to fix your problems are over! Additionally, what many renters don’t realize is that there are a lot more costs associated with being a homeowner. The most obvious are property taxes and insurance, but maintenance costs are often an overlooked category. There are also the very real concerns of out-of-control energy costs and rampant inflation due to misguided energy policies. Contractors and repairmen often have large commercial vehicles to bring the proper equipment to a job site; with gas prices running at record levels, these valuable workers must charge more to make up for their huge transportation costs.
Luckily, there are ways to minimize your long-term maintenance costs. It requires some forethought and regular upkeep but following our tips can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repair costs. Think about not being able to use the central air conditioning during a summer heat wave all because you neglected to change the filter. Not only is it the most inconvenient time for such a repair, but the costliest time. Wouldn’t you rather spend a few minutes of your time and a couple of dollars upfront instead? With uncertainty in our economic outlook, it’s vital that we pay keen attention to the small details.
Now, here are a few maintenance tips for homeowners in Boston:

Clean Out All Exhaust Fans and Vents

Cleaning out the exhaust fans and vents in your home is more important than most homeowners in Boston realize. First, they help rid your home of odors. Exhaust fans and vents also remove moisture and contaminants in the air. When they are dirty, dusty, and clogged these devices simply can’t do their job correctly. More importantly, a dirty exhaust vent can become a fire hazard!

Check Your Fire Extinguishers

Speaking of fires, many homeowners do not think about checking their fire extinguishers to ensure that they’re working correctly. However, it’s an incredibly important tool that can save lives and your property if there is a fire. Please put this essential maintenance task on your list ASAP.

Clean the Range Hood Fan in the Kitchen

This is another one of those things that many homeowners in Boston forget about or are unaware of. However, it’s important to clean the range hood fan in the kitchen. It can easily become clogged, and if so, it won’t suck up the smoke when anyone is cooking. That can end up leading to a grease fire.

Clean Your Gutters in the Late Fall and Early Spring

If you don’t clean your gutters, they will become clogged with leaves, sticks, and other debris. Whenever it rains or the snow melts all at once the water will not drain off your roof correctly. Instead, it will end up causing a tremendous amount of damage to your roof, the structure of your home, and the foundation. If water enters the property it will also cause unhealthy mold and mildew to grow. That could be happening inside of your walls where you can’t even see it! We are also seeing advancement in better gutter systems that do a far better job of not letting in debris in the first place. Most landlords we have spoke with say they are leaning towards better gutter systems in the future.

Check Your Plumbing

Homeowners in Boston should check their plumbing fixtures and pipes for leaks on a frequent basis. This holds especially true in the cold winter months. If your plumbing pipes happen to freeze, they can easily burst if not taken care of in a timely manner. If that happens, they will need to be replaced, which is an extensive and expensive job.

Change the Rotation of Your Ceiling Fans

Here’s some info that homeowners in Boston may not be aware of. If you have ceiling fans the blade rotation should be set to a clockwise rotation in the winter. It redistributes the warm air. The blade rotation should be set counterclockwise for cooling during the summer. It will go a long way in saving you money on your heating and cooling costs.

Re-Caulk the Bathroom and Kitchen If Needed

Homeowners in Boston should know that the plumbing appliances are sealed with caulk around the edges. It prevents water and moisture from entering any openings. However, caulk cracks and shrinks over time. When that happens, it needs to be replaced ASAP.

Have Your Roof Inspected Twice Per Year

Homeowners in Boston should pay careful attention to their roofs. A professional should inspect it in the late fall and early spring. That way you’ll know if there’s any damage to fix before the harsh winter weather sets in. The cold, and snow, can take a heavy toll on your roof. The spring inspection will uncover any new damage the winter caused.

Clean Your Siding Twice Per Year

Homeowners in Boston need to know the exterior of their homes requires a good cleaning. This should be done twice per year to get rid of any dirt, cobwebs, mildew, and mold that tend to build up quickly. Cleaning your siding on a regular basis will go a long way in protecting your investment.

In conclusion, the maintenance tips for homeowners in Boston as listed above are all important. They will help keep your property in good working order and in great shape. Please visit the Boston Pads Real Estate Portal for more valuable information.