Taking care of your home or rental property requires regular maintenance but this is essential to keep your home looking its best.
If you’re thinking of selling or letting your property in the near future, these top jobs to do in summer will also help it to sell or let quicker, whilst achieving the best possible price. Most homebuyers won’t want lots of small jobs to do when they move in. Equally, tenants will be looking for a home that’s well looked after.
1. Boiler service
It’s a good idea to get your boiler serviced annually to ensure it’s working safely and efficiently. A service should be carried out by a qualified and registered heating engineer.
Scheduling your boiler service in the summer can mean waiting times are shorter, as engineers are less busy with emergencies in the warmer months. It also makes sense to have checks carried out when your boiler is not being used as your central heating. Any problems identified can be fixed now without too much inconvenience to you.
If you’ve got an old boiler with a low appliance rating, consider replacing it with a new A-rated boiler. This could have a big impact on your EPC score and subsequently add value to your property.
2. Install a carbon monoxide alarm
If you have an appliance that burns fuel in your property, such as gas, LPG, oil or wood boiler, you'll need a carbon monoxide alarm in every room that fuel is burned in. Also, install an alarm if you have a wood or coal-burning fire or a wood burner.
New smoke and carbon monoxide alarm regulations came into force last year for rental properties. It’s highly advisable to have a CO alarm in your own home too, even if you aren’t renting it out.
3. Exterior painting
Summer is a great time to paint or repaint the exterior of your home, as the warmer weather will help the paint dry quickly. Consider anywhere outside that could benefit from a coat of paint and use this time to get the job done. Think walls, fences, gates, the front door, garage door, trellis, windowsills, garden buildings and the shed.
Extreme temperatures and wet weather can cause untreated wood to expand and rot, so it’s a good idea to fill in any cracks and re-paint your windowsills to help protect them. Check the window seals as well and replace any that look to be failing.
The brighter the outside of your property looks, the quicker it will sell or let, and it will also help to add value to your property.
4. Check the roof
Take a thorough look at your roof to prevent any issues when the wet weather returns. If you can see any light coming in, water can also penetrate through.
Specifically, look at the following, and fix any issues as soon as possible:
- Shingles - if you notice your felt roof shingles rising in the centre, or at the edges, this is a sign of damage that could lead to roof leaks.
- Flashing - look closely at the lead flashing on your home, often found along joints in the roof, around a chimney, or around ventilation pipes. Look for any visible signs of damage, such as open seams, tears, or rust.
- Tiles - if you see any chipped, cracked, or missing tiles on your roof, these need to be replaced immediately.
- Moss – look for any moss building up on your roof and clean it off. Moss is most common in shadier areas that receive less sunlight and its roots can damage your roofing material as they deepen.
5. Repointing
Repointing is the process of removing and replacing mortar to fix any damage that may have occurred to the brickwork of your property. Doing this is especially important for older homes, where new mortar can be used to reduce dampness and improve the durability of the walls for all weather conditions.
Repointing is best done in the warmer, drier summer months and will improve the appearance of the exterior of your home.
6. Get your chimney cleaned
If you have a fireplace with a chimney, it’s important to get this cleaned regularly to keep it operating safely and efficiently. The best time to clean chimneys in your home is in the warmer months, between spring and late summer, before you start thinking about lighting the fire.
Professionals can get the job done quickly and cleanly, as well as inspect your chimney for potential fire hazards that are easy to miss with an untrained eye.
A fireplace is a great selling point for your home, but that’s only if the fireplace has been properly maintained throughout the years. You don’t want to sell your home with a potentially dangerous fireplace.
7. Improve your driveway
Improving your driveway will make your home more attractive and add to its value. Depending on what type of driveway you’re going for, the dry summer months can be a great time to do it.
If you’re choosing Asphalt mixture, it needs to be laid in warm weather, so the mixture doesn’t cool and cure too quickly. Slightly cooler (but still dry) weather is better for concrete to ensure it retains its smooth finish.
Local and trusted expertise to sell your home
As local estate agents in Cheltenham, Worcester, Stroud and Gloucester, if you’re thinking of selling or letting your property, speak to our valuation experts. We can advise you on further ways to add value to your home, as well as how to achieve the best possible price.
Book a free valuation to find out what your home's worth.
