Spring Checkup - Four Areas of Your Home

Other things to do:
As the days get longer and warmer, we are all spending more time outdoors gardening, mending our lawns, or seeing what our beautiful state has to offer. With so many more things to do we forget that our homes can use a review to ensure they have held up during the winter. 

Performing your own home inspection and four areas to check:
When I am doing home inspections in Colorado Springs, I generally will start with the exterior, then the roof, then the interior. This serves a few purposes. First, I am already on the ground and I want to see what the water coming off of the roof is doing to the exterior and then if water has entered the interior. 

• Exterior - Check the condition of the paint, caulking, siding, and look to see where the water is flowing. It is away from the home? When was the last time you painted your home? Is the siding still in good condition?
• Roof - I would not recommend inspecting your own roof, but if you do, check the conditions of the roof covering, the flashing, and any other areas that the sun and elements work hard to destroy throughout the year. Are the coverings still in good shape? Is the flashing showing any signs of rust? Have the roof jacks cracked? Don't forget your roof selfie. :-)
• Attic - Again, I would not suggest you check your attic other than poking your head up through the access. You can often get a good overall feel for the condition of the attic from the attic access. Do you notice any damp insulation? Is there any sign of animals in the attic? Are there any dark stains on the wood above you? Did you ever add that insulation your home inspector mentioned might add energy efficiency to your home?
• Crawlspace - Not many people like going into crawlspaces, but they say a lot about how the home is doing as a whole. Be on the lookout for poisonous spiders and animals. Do you notice any evidence of moisture intrusion? Have any new cracks formed in the walls? Do you see any rodent activity? Have you given the spider in the corner a name? 

Pro-Tip - Be an active participant in the maintenance of your home. The above inspection might take an hour or two on a Saturday. Reward yourself with a nice drink afterwards. Your home stands against the elements to protect you and your family 24/7 365. Show your home a little love every once in a while, protect your investment, and it will last for generations.