Your Fall Home Maintenance Check List

It’s sweater weather season, and while that means it’s time for apple picking, fire pits and all things pumpkin spice, it’s also the perfect time to tackle some key chores to get your home ready for the winter.  “A few small chores and repairs now mean less headaches later,” advises Sharon Robie, as sales associate with ERA Justin Realty.  “You don’t want to find out that your snow blower is broken after the first major snow storm!” 

1. Clean and check gutters, downspouts, and basement window wells.  Remove leaves and debris that can cause flooding.

2. Aerate and seed the lawn.  This is best done in the early fall, while there’s still time for new grass to grow before the first frost.  Remove all dead leaves before the first snow, and then -- just this once -- mow your grass short to keep mold from forming. 

3. Clean your chimney. Check for cracks, repair flashing, consider installing a chimney cap. 

4. Winterize outdoor water systems.  Blow out your sprinklers, turn off outdoor faucets and drain garden hoses.

5. Patch cracks and repair damage to your foundation, concrete steps, driveways and walkways.  Do this before it snows to avoid accidents and make snow removal easier.

6. Get ready for snow! Schedule maintenance or repairs for your snowblower now.  Remove rocks, extension cords and garden hoses around walkways and driveways that might catch in the blower.

7. Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Stock up on extra batteries now.   

8. Make sure your heating system is in good working order.  Change the furnace filters. Clean the fireplace. Make sure your heating systems have sufficient fuel, gas, electricity, etc. 

9. Switch the ceiling fan direction to clockwise. This pushes the cool air up, and the warm air down, which can help to lower heating costs.    

10.  Check and repair air leaks.  If a lighted candle flickers when held close to your window or door frames, you have an air leak.  Fix by caulking, weather stripping, or applying sealant.

While most home maintenance can be done by the homeowner, some chores -- like chimney maintenance -- are best handled by a professional.   Contact Sharon or any of the other experienced agents at ERA Justin Realty at 201.939.7500 to refer you to the trusted home maintenance and repair vendors in your area.

One of the Top Reasons to Own a Home

 

One of the benefits of homeownership is that it is a “forced savings plan.” Here’s how it works: You make a mortgage payment each month. Part of that payment is applied to the principal balance of your mortgage. Each month you owe less on the home. The difference between the value of the home and what you owe is called equity.

If your home has appreciated since the time you purchased it, that increase in value also raises your equity. Over time, the equity in your home could be substantial. Recently, CoreLogic revealed that the average homeowner gained more than $65,000 in equity over the last 5 years.

Unlike the last decade, homeowners are no longer foolishly tapping into that equity. In 2006-2008, many owners used their homes like an ATM by pulling equity out to purchase new cars, jet skis, or lavish vacations. They were pulling out cash (equity) from an appreciating asset, and then spending it on rapidly depreciating items. That is not happening anymore. Over 50% of Homes Have at Least 50% Equity

The number of homeowners that currently have at least 50% equity in their home is astonishing. According to the Urban Institute, 37.1% of all homes in the country are mortgage-free. In a home equity study, ATTOM Data Solutions revealed that of the 62.9% of homes with a mortgage, 25.6% have at least 50% equity. That number has been increasing over the last five years: By doing a little math, we can see that 53.2% of all homes in this country have at least 50% equity right now. Of all homes, 37.1% are mortgage-free and an additional 16.1% with a mortgage have at least 50% equity.

The bottom line is that homeownership is different than renting. When you own, your housing expense (the mortgage payment) comes back to you in the form of equity in your home. That doesn’t happen with your rent payment. Your rent helps build your landlord’s equity instead.

All of the ERA Justin Realty full-service Realtor agents can be reached at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue. By office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Also, view 1000s of homes at their websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.