Noll Team Real Estate

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20 HOME Tips after 20 Years in Business

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This year marks 20 years of service and we’d love to celebrate by giving you 20 HOME tips throughout the year, helping to make you a confident homeowner. Don’t see 20 tips? Keep coming back - this blog is updated every month.

Tip 14: Clean your Gutters and Downspouts

With Fall on the way, many trees will begin to lose their leaves. In some cases, those leaves end up in gutters and remain with all the other buildup, blocking water from flowing through the gutter to the downspout. That standing water can become a breeding ground for insects, or a watering hole for small pests. As the temperature continues to drop, that standing water may freeze. With nowhere to go, this water may begin to seep through your roof and you may soon discover water damage.

Our recommendations to help you:

  • BinWild (www.binwild.com) - Gutter cleaning is a newer service, don’t hesitate to call (260) 408-8304 for information and pricing

Scroll for more details, past tips, and our recommendations.

Past Tips

Tip 1: Schedule Your Landscaper (January) - By calling early, you’ll be able to make sure you are on the schedule for fertilization and winter cleanup before the company books up. You may even be able to snag a date much earlier in the season making it easier to plant and giving you more time to enjoy your yard.

Our landscaper recommendations to help you:

Tip 2: Deep Clean/Organize (January) - Take advantage of those frigid days when you don’t feel like heading outside by cleaning the inside of your home. Deep clean windows, floors, floorboards, bathrooms and areas that don’t normally get attention. Remember, it will be much easier to clean if you’ve decluttered first.

Our cleaning recommendations to help you:

Our organizing recommendations to help you:

  • Spaces (https://www.spacesfw.com)

Tip 3: Test Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors (February)

It’s cold outside and many of us are pumping the heat, enjoying our fireplaces or space heaters, and cooking warm meals. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking, heating, and electrical were among the leading causes of house fires with winter being the season with the most fires. If you don’t check your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors monthly, consider starting this month.

Tip 4: Inspect and Service Air Conditioner (March)

Many people assume because the air conditioner worked over the previous summer, it will kick back into gear when you need it next. But what happens if that’s not the case? Rather than wait for a service tech in the unbearable heat, it’s recommended that you service your AC before the hot months to ensure your home stays cool. It’s also less expensive to pay for routine maintenance than major fixes that may go undetected.

Our recommendations to help you:

Tip 5: Change HVAC Filters (March)

Spring is in sight and your HVAC system has likely been working hard to keep your home heated. With all the air flow from the heating system, your filters may have picked up dust, dander, pet hair, lint, and more. Replacing the filters when they are dirty will help keep your family healthy.

Our recommendations to help you:

  • DIY (filters can be found online and at your local hardware store)

  • Korte Does it All, Inc (www.kortedoesitall.com)

Tip 6: Check your attic for mold or critters (April)

With most attics being dark and humid, they become an ideal environment for mold to grow. While you may not spend much, if any, time in the attic, airborne spores are still able to travel through the air and vents to other areas of the home. Both people and animals can be allergic to mold, making it important to remove if discovered.

Attics are also an inviting home for different types of critters. Many may find your attic a much more welcoming environment than the harsh winter cold and snow and will seek shelter. In some cases, these critters may stay a while longer to raise their young during the spring.

Our recommendations to help you:

Tip 7: Begin spring cleaning (April)

Now that spring has arrived, it is the perfect time to open the windows and let fresh air move through the home. While you may want to stick with the interior of the home, it would be wise to start cleaning the exterior as well. Consider creating a plan to help the entire process become more manageable. Perhaps you begin inside, room by room, and make your way outside to tend to the flowers or power wash when the weather becomes warmer.

Tip 8: Powerwash Exteriors, Decks, and Driveways (May)

Now that the weather is warming up, it is a great time to consider power washing. Say goodbye to winter by removing all of the dirt and grime that has built up on your siding, decks, and driveway. Spring is also allergy season and allergens and other contaminants can stick to siding and decks. If you have any damage from the fall or winter months, it may be hidden under all the salt, dirt, and grime of the season. Powerwashing will allow you to detect the damaged areas and take proper steps to fix those.

Our recommendations to help you:

Tip 9: Schedule a Home Inspection (May)

Most people have only had a home inspection when buying or selling a home. Did you know you can request a preventative home inspection? By having an inspector look at your home every couple of years, you can potentially save thousands of dollars by performing small fixes before a larger problem occurs.

Our recommendations to help you:

Tip 10: Change the Rotation of Your Fans (June)

Did you know that the rotation of your fan can help save energy by warming or cooling a room? In the summer months, the rotation of the fan should be counterclockwise. This direction will force air down and out allowing the cool air that pools by the floor to make it’s way to a level in which you can feel the refreshing air. In the winter months, the fan should be clockwise; pulling the cool air up and allowing the warm air to be redistributed.

If you use air conditioning to cool your home, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort. In temperate climates, or during moderately hot weather, ceiling fans may allow you to avoid using your air conditioner altogether. ~Department of Energy

Tip 11: Schedule a Landscaper for Fall Cleanup (July)

Fall is just around the corner and is a great time to consider having a landscaper come out and access your lawn. There is a chance your lawn needs to be aerated to ensure it’s healthy in the Spring, or perhaps you have weeds that need to be removed for minimal cleanup next season.

Our landscaper recommendations to help you:

Tip 12: Have your roof, chimney, and fireplace inspected

Did you know Fall is the best time for roof repairs because of the weather and temperature? After spring and summer storms and debris, there may be unseen damage to your roof. Unless you’re on your roof, you may not know an issue is forming. Consider getting your roof checked out and any problems fixed that may become a bigger issue (and bigger cost) over the winter months.

Tip 13: Schedule furnace checkup/maintenance

Living in the Midwest, you’re sure to be using your heat over the winter months. It’s important to have your furnace checked-out before you start using relying on it to stay warm. Finding issues before the chill sets in can help save money, but most importantly, it can keep your family safe. If there is a crack in your furnace, it can be detected during a maintenance check, saving your family from oil, natural gas, or propane leaks.

Our heating and cooling expert recommendations to help you: