Fall maintenance on your home now could save money later

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – Fall is here, and so is the time to prepare your home for what winter can bring.

Snow, ice, wind, and rain can be physically uncomfortable. They can all lead to financial pain if your home gets damaged. When it comes to home maintenance, an ounce of prevention is worth ten million pounds of all the wood, nails, and spackle it takes to fix whatever came apart. Prevention is the cure for all the problems your home could have, but won’t because you did the maintenance to keep it safe and well-kept.

“It’s really important for you to take care of your home each season with regular maintenance,” exclaimed Courtney Klosterman.

Klosterman, a Home Insights Expert with Hippo.com, works to provide quick quotes for homeowners for insurance on their digital platform while also providing simple proactive steps that not only save you money but also ensure safety.

“It can help keep your home in really great shape,” stressed Klosterman.

For most buying a home will be the largest or one of the largest purchases they will ever make in life. It’s not smart to wait until something breaks to fix it because then it can also break your budget.

“Taking on DIY projects can have a big benefit to your budget in the long run,” explained Klosterman.

Klosterman stresses starting at the top, the roof.

“Clogged gutters and downspouts can actually be very dangerous for your roof and your foundation due to water,” stressed Klosterman.

Water damage can cause destruction in numerous ways, from ceilings, to walls, to wood, to mold and more.

“It’s really important to get ahead of these issues early by cleaning gutters before the weather gets too cold,” explained Klosterman.

Make sure you check the roof line. Take a minute to inspect it from the ridge to the rafters to the eaves. Just like clogged gutters and downspouts, water from a leaky roof can cause damage all the way down to the foundation. Tree branches brushing your roof also pose a damage risk especially if they fall.

“It’s incredibly beneficial, your roof to your home’s protection, and replacing your roof is one of the most expensive home upgrades,” stressed Klosterman. A roof replacement can cost anywhere from around $5,000 to $15,000.”

Depending on the material you select for your roof it can cost much more. If that gives you a chill just thinking about that bill, what about a drafty window?

“Drafty windows and doors can be comparable to leaving a window open,” exclaims Klosterman. “That can really negatively impact your energy bill. Check for any potential drafts around your window or door frames. Look for gaps. Look for signs of cracks or signs of rot and address any necessary fixes.”

If you have a fireplace, check for blockages and creosote buildup in the chimney and flue. Fill any cracks and clean up the area. This is a perfect time to check your smoke detectors and your carbon monoxide detectors.

If you aren’t comfortable with any of the home maintenance tasks make sure you hire a professional.

Frost has already found its way to WAVE Country. That should be a reminder to disconnect your outdoor faucets and store your hoses. You may want to get a faucet insulation cover, as it can save you hundreds of dollars if it keeps your pipes from freezing and bursting.

You can find Hippo’s Fall Home Maintenance Checklist on their website.

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