It is hard to believe it is almost mid-way through December, but I guess as the saying goes, “time fly’s when you are having fun!” We have been incredibly busy gearing up for the end of the year preparing for Christmas and the start of a new decade, and with winter upon us, it is the season for home maintenance!

With a big Selling market forecasted for the Spring of 2020, winter becomes the best time of year to complete tasks around the house, repair parts of the home, or enhance certain aspects.

Here is a look at the most important indoor/outdoor maintenance tasks you can complete throughout the winter months.

Number one for a reason as there is nothing worse than having a heater or boiler that stops working during the winter. Calling a heating contractor to service your equipment, clean it out, test it for safety and replace any filters or broken parts is a worthy investment as it will make sure you are cozy warm during the cold months and not relying on blankets/sweaters to stay warm. We highly recommended Fabio from Bravo Plumbing and Heating – (604) 716-1667.

2.      Clean Your Gutters/Remove Vegetation

Since Vancouver (North Shore especially) is renowned for its vegetation, gutters can get quite messy throughout the year. It is recommended by most experts that you clean your gutters at least twice a year on average, but it all depends on where you live. The reason, leaking or overflowing gutters can cause moisture damage to your home. The same goes for plants you may have growing against the home. Doing so will make sure there is no moisture damage, but will also maintain the beauty of your exterior. Don’t have time? No worries, for anything windows and gutters, call Byron from Byron’s Window Cleaning, (604) 803-6256.

3.      Shut Off Outdoor Water Valve(s)

This is a big one, especially for the colder climates up the mountain or sea-to-sky, shutting off water valves will ensure water doesn’t freeze in your pipes and burst. Simply drain excess water from pipes/hoses and shut off the main valve and you are good to go!

4.      Inspect Your Roof

It may not seem like the “ideal” task to complete during the winter, but hiring a roof inspection company to inspect your roof will be important, especially if you are planning on putting your house on the market come Spring. For your roof, you can rely on Sabi and the team from Cypress Roofing – (778) 882-3412.

5.      Add Weather Stripping/Caulk Windows and Doors

Winter is a great time to figure out which windows/doors have drafts. Applying weather stripping and caulking will help preserve heat better, meaning you do not have to use your furnace as often, which in turn saves you more money. One area to make sure you cover as well is the attic; you will be able to patch any leaks (especially important for our rainy climate) and also add weather strips to the hatch because cold air sinks.

6.      Test Smoke Detectors and Replace Expired Ones

It is recommended to inspect your fire alarms every six months or so, and if they are over six years old, then they are actually fifty-percent less effective. Your smoke detectors should be hard-wired to ensure full capability and range throughout the home; if they aren’t at the moment, it might be best to call an electrician to do it as the detector will be more effective that way. We recommend Kyle Robertson to take care of your electric needs. Give him a call at (604) 764-2071.

7.      Repair Interior Items

Take the time to complete the repair tasks around the house, especially on those snowy (or should we say rainy) days. Fixing loose door or window handles, wall chips or scratches, trim, handrails, or even touching up your kitchen or bathroom are some great tasks for the winter months.

We hope you enjoyed our “Winter Maintenance” list as it will not only give you something to put your mind to, it will give your home more value if you want to Sell in the Spring!

As this is the last article we will be publishing this year, we want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made this year incredible for us as we are truly grateful. There are lots of exciting things on the horizon for us heading into the new decade, and we can not wait for you to see.

If you are a Seller looking to list this Spring, you can email Kim and Sean at WhittallRealEstate@gmail.com.

We wish you a safe holiday season and Happy New Year!

Keep up-to-date with all of our news on Facebook, Instagram, and even Twitter.

.

.

.

Citations: