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3 WAYS TO SHOW YOUR HOUSE THE LOVE

3 WAYS TO SHOW YOUR HOUSE THE LOVE
February 15, 2018 wayjamesmarketing

Love is in the air! Yep, it’s that month when most people spend at least a little time trying to figure out how to show their loved ones how much they mean to them. As a realtor and stager I’d like to offer a few suggestions for doing the same to your house. After all, our homes are the backdrop of so many of life’s memories.

When I was in Permaculture school (Permaculture is a fancy term for the study of sustainable building/living) I had a teacher explain that your house is just like you if were to spend all of your time outside like it does. In order to protect yourself from the elements you need a good hat, coat and shoes to stay warm and dry. That’s a good place to start for showing your house the love.

Put on a hat!
Your roof is really on the front line protecting you from rain, snow wind, even extreme heat. Make sure your roof is in good working order and the flashing is water proof and doing its job around pipes and chimneys. If you have a pull down attic, there are attic insulated hoods that are amazing at keeping heating and cooling escape from around ill-fitting attic hatches.

Don’t forget your coat!
Water is one of the forces that can do a lot of damage to your home. In fact, it’s one of the most common reasons people file insurance claims. Wood rot is just one of the problems you may have to deal with if your house isn’t kept dry. Make sure your gutters are clear of debris and able to drain properly. Gutters are huge in keeping your house dry. Make sure downspouts are clear and aimed away from the foundation. Have your HVAC system serviced and change filters out ever 4-6 months. One small leak can lead to big repair bills. One other thing, make sure to keep bushes and tree limbs trimmed away from roof and foundation to prohibit critters access to roof and places to hang out.

You have to wear shoes!
The foundation of your home needs to be solid in order to carry the weight of everything above it. Make sure you have a moisture barrier in the crawl space to prohibit moisture from wicking up from the ground and creating a moist environment under your house. If moisture builds up it can create mold and that’s an expensive problem to fix, not to mention it can create a host of health issues. Also, insulate the floor joists under your house.

Our relationship with our home is just like any other relationship. If you invest your time in it, it will be there for you when you need it. If you ignore it and start to take it for granted, it will show signs of neglect. When you think of your house as a living organism you will start to make choices that your house will love you for.