Columbia, South Carolina real estate is our specialty! Serving the Columbia, SC area, including Lake Murray, Cayce, Chapin, Irmo, Lexington, West Columbia
and more!
Maintaining Your Columbia SC Home
Your mortgage requires that you adequately maintain your property and not allow it to deteriorate. And, as a homeowner, you can't afford to sit back and defer maintenance. You can extend the life of appliances and fixtures and avoid expensive repairs by doing routine maintenance yourself.
It's a good idea to set up a budget for your home's regular maintenance and unexpected repairs. You may want to budget 1 percent of the purchase price of your Columbia SC house to cover annual maintenance and repairs. You also want to adhere to a regular savings plan to cover essential bills, emergency repairs, and large, periodic expenses such as property taxes and homeowner's insurance (if they're not held in an escrow account by your lender). Some financial advisors suggest saving 5 percent of your take-home pay. You must commit this amount every payday to make it happen.
The following seasonal checklist will give you an idea of what you can do in the fall and spring each year to maintain your Columbia SC home:
Spring Checklist
Outside Items
Check all weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors, especially if you have air-conditioning.
Check outside of house for cracked or peeling paint; caulk and repaint as necessary.
Remove, clean, and store storm windows (if removable).
Check all door and window screens; patch or replace as needed; put screens up (if removable type).
Inside Items
Replace filters on air-conditioners.
Check and clean dryer vent, stove hood, and room fans; change or clean filters on furnace.
Check seals on refrigerator and freezer; clean refrigerator coils; clean burner surfaces; adjust burners.
Clean fireplace; leave damper open for improved ventilation if home is not air-conditioned.
Check basement wall and floors for dampness; if moist, remedy as appropriate.
Clean dehumidifier according to manufacturer's instructions.
Check for leaky faucets; replace washers as necessary.
Check attic for proper ventilation; open vents.
Clean drapes and blinds; repair as needed.
Fall Checklist
Outside Items
Check all weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors; replace or repair as needed.
Check for cracks and holes in house siding; fill with caulking as necessary.
Remove window air-conditioners, or put weatherproof covers on them.
Take down screens (if removable type); clean and store.
Check storm windows and doors; clean and repair as needed; put back up (if removable type).
Drain outside faucets.
Clean gutters and drain pipes so that leaves won't clog them.
Check roof for leaks; repair as necessary.
Check flashing around vents, skylights, and chimneys for leaks.
Check chimney for damaged chimney caps and loose or missing mortar.
Check chimney flue; clear obstructions; make sure damper closes tightly.
Inside Items
Check insulation wherever possible; replace or add as necessary.
Have heating system and heat pump serviced; have humidifier checked; change or clean filters on furnace.
Drain hot water heater; remove sediment from bottom of tank; clean burner surfaces; adjust burners.
Check and clean humidifier in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.
Clean refrigerator coils.
Clean fireplace.
Ask Hugh and Carol Ryall, Earth Available Realty, Inc., about Columbia SC real estate.
