Top 5 Tips for Protecting and Maintaining your Home this Winter

Since 2024 is still just getting into gear, and the new year is a time when we like to overhaul or establish new diets and exercise routines for better health and fitness, I thought I would share my top 5 tips to ramp up your home's fitness routine too! Selling real estate for 22 years, I have run into a lot of circumstances where deferred maintenance on a property has resulted in thousands, even tens of thousands, of dollars spent to bring a home up to basic standards for marketability. Just like our physical fitness, if you don't keep on top of maintenance, lack of care can quickly change how our home looks and functions.  

In Southern Coastal California, the climate is generally mild, but there are still specific tasks you can focus on this Winter Season to start a maintainence schedule and protect your home:

1. Check and Maintain Your Roof: While Southern California doesn't experience harsh winter conditions, it's still a good time to inspect your roof for any damage. Check for loose or missing shingles and address any issues promptly. Additionally, clean gutters and downspouts to ensure proper water drainage, and re-seal roof drains flat roofs where water can pool, as even light rain can occur during this time.

2. Inspect Windows and Doors: Ensure that windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent drafts, especially during the cooler evenings. Check for any gaps or cracks in the seals and apply weatherstripping or caulking as needed. This will help maintain a comfortable indoor temperature and reduce energy costs.

3. Prepare for Rain: Even though rainfall is typically lower in Southern California, it's still a good idea to prepare for any rainy days.

   Clean out gutters and downspouts to prevent water buildup. Inspect your property for proper drainage and make sure water flows away from the foundation to prevent potential flooding or water damage. Re-grading or adding drainage to direct water away from your footings or sub area can be the difference between healthy and poor conditions for your foundation, which can be one of the costliest repairs on a home.
4. Maintain Your Exterior Paint Surfaces: A lot of us go blind to areas of peeling paint or exposed wood on the exterior of our homes especially if we are not walking the perimeters of all sides of our homes regularly. Exposed areas of wood soak up water and attract fungus and dryrot that can destroy wood members in your eaves and fascia boards, or on wood siding.  Sand and touch up any areas of bare wood trim and siding with exterior primer and paint to keep your home looking fresh and your wood protected.

5. Inspect and Clean Outdoor Spaces: We as Southern California residents often use outdoor spaces year-round. Check and clean patios, decks, and outdoor furniture. Consider applying a fresh coat of sealant or paint to protect surfaces from the occasional rain. If you have a pool, make sure it's properly maintained, and cover it when not in use.

By focusing on these tasks in January and February, you can ensure that your home remains well-maintained and prepared for any unexpected weather conditions, even in the typically mild winter months.  Protect your biggest asset by being proactive!

If you need resources to help you with roofing, painting, re-grading, drainage, etc, call me at (714) 514-5643, or email me at nlongmeyer@gmail.com for resources.  I am always happy to refer vendors who I or my clients have had great experiences with.