Our Greenwich Property Management Team Discusses How to Keep Home Maintenance Costs Down
The cost to maintain a home has risen sharply over the past few years. On average, homeowners are paying $1,180 a month in hidden home maintenance costs, according to research from Zillow and Thumbtack. These increases are due in part to the rise in material costs as well as labor shortages across the trades.
There are ways to hedge against these price increases, however. The key is to be proactive. Preventative maintenance can help keep systems and building materials functioning effectively, so as to avoid larger issues from occurring when they fail. The Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich property management program offers a range of preventative maintenance solutions to homeowners across Greenwich, CT. Hear are a few of them:
Roof and Window Inspections
One of the preventative maintenance tasks that our Greenwich property management team provides is seasonal roof and window inspections. Careful review of these surfaces will help identify any missing or damages shingles or flashing, rot on windows and trim, and any other issues that could allow water to enter the house. Since many of these surfaces are out of site, inspections are key to accessing high and out of reach areas.
The idea is to fix problems before they become bigger issues. For example, cracked flashing, if left unattended, can allow water to enter the house. Once this happens, mold can grow and wood can rot. And since water issues are often out of site, behind walls, or in the eves, catching issues is critical.
Generator, Sump Pump and HVAC Equipment Regular Maintenance
Servicing generators and HVAC equipment on a yearly basis (once for heat and once for AC) provides our Greenwich property management crew the opportunity to inspect the system closely. By doing so we can help identify worn out parts that may need to be replaced to avoid the system from breaking down and causing larger issues. In addition, tasks like cleaning the evaporator coils, changing out the filters, and clearing blocked drain lines will help the equipment run at peak efficiency.
When basement flooding occurs it’s important that your sump pump is functioning properly. Regular inspections can help identify issues to ensure that the equipment is always in proper working order. If the sump pump was to fail, the cost and inconvenience of water damage to the home could become a major problem.
Cleaning Dryer Vents
Although cost is a factor when it comes to fire events, the real concern here is safety. A single spark from the heating element can ignite lint that’s built up inside of a dryer vent. According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), dryer fires are responsible for approximately 15,600 structure fires, 400 injuries and 15 deaths annually. Furthermore, dryer fires are responsible for over $100 million in property losses each year. The Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich property management team deals with dryer vent issues regularly. Having them cleaned is a critical part of any preventative home maintenance plan.
Inspecting Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors do their job well; however, they will not perform their critical duty if they are not in working order. 3 out of 5 residential fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarm, or smoke alarms that fail to operate, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Many of us don’t think about them. As a result, years can go by without testing or replacing smoke detectors.
As part of our Greenwich Property Management program, we check fire and carbon monoxide detectors regularly to ensure they are functioning properly. And we will replace the equipment when needed. Alarm sensors can wear out and so it is recommended that they be replaced every 10 years, and checked at least once per year.
Stopping Issues from Occurring in The First Place
Managing the numerous trades required to handle preventative maintenance tasks is often a time consuming and frustrating process. This is why Greenwich homeowners rely on Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich property management program. We handle all of your preventative maintenance requirements. Having one contact for all of these tasks not only makes life easier, it can also help save you from unexpected costs in the future.
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