Spring is the perfect time to give your home a check-up

Spring is the perfect time to give your home a check-up. Every home needs some maintenance each year, and most people do about one home improvement project a year. As you look ahead to the best months for exterior repairs and remodeling, a little planning can save you both money and time.
Change the batteries, inspect, and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Clean your gutters. Debris in the gutters can clog and cause overflow problems with the spring rains. Put on downspout extensions if necessary to get water away from your foundation walls.

You should also check over your deck once winter starts to fade. The winter can cause decks and railings to crack or split and should be replaced in the spring with new wood. You can also apply a wood protecting finish to the wood to prepare it for rain.

Check for damage to your roof. Signs include missing, curling, cupping, broken or cracked shingles. Pooling or ponds of water that fail to drain from flat roofs may indicate low areas and inadequate drainage.

You can get air conditioning unit checked out and serviced. Some HVAC companies that will offer a yearly service plan. Also, you should replace your air filter.

Inspect trees for broken branches. If the limb is high up, hire a licensed arborist. If you can reach it from the ground, take it down using the three-cut technique, which prevents bark from tearing and creating an open wound on the trunk