It’s that time in south central Alaska that we all “lovingly” refer to as break-up. It’s pretty ugly, and it smells, but it’s warm, and it means summer is just around the corner. The snow is rapidly disappearing, and it’s time to start thinking about spring cleaning and maintenance on your properties. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
- Check the gutters. Yes, you probably had them cleaned at some point in the fall, but when we have a lot of snow, it can cause them to come loose and sag. If they need to be cleaned, you can do that then too.
- Check the roof. While you’re up taking a look at the gutters, check out the roof too. You’re looking for any signs of loose shingles or other damage. Anchorage’s high winds and intense winters can wreak havoc on your roof. Better to catch it as soon as possible, before it leads to other, more serious damage to your rental property.
- Check the sidewalk area or driveway for new cracks from frost heave during the winter. You can decide how serious they are and when to fix them, but at least you are aware of them. Some cracks or sinking can be DIY’d, and some require the help of a professional.
- Take a few minutes to check the screens on your properties. These get ignored during the harsh winter but will see a lot of use shortly. Better to know about ones that may need to get replaced sooner rather than later.
- Check the exterior hose spigots. You can make sure they are in working order by turning them on for a few minutes. It’s important to make sure they aren’t backing up and causing water damage inside the home.
- If your property has a fence, check it out. Look for any damage frost heave might have done. Make sure the seal, if it is wood, is still good, so you don’t have to worry about rot. Look for peeling paint that could indicate you’ll need to repaint that summer.
- Take a look at the foundation. Depending on when your home was built and what type of foundation you have, you’re going to need to check for cracks or shifting, again due to frost heave.
- Check the whole house. Do a walk through and look for areas where the paint might be chipping or peeling. Look for any wood rot if you have wood trim.
Our summers are short in Anchorage, but they are a great time to focus on maintenance that can’t be done any other time of year. If you invest the time in the spring to scope out areas that might need more attention this summer, you can plan ahead and take care of little issues before they become big ones.