8 Tips to Get Your Home Ready for Spring

Spring is finally here! While it brings warmer temperatures, flowers and sunshine, it can also shed light on problems around your home that might need maintenance. Here are a few things you can do to keep your home well-maintained and beautiful:

1.  GUTTERS - Make sure they are free of debris and are draining properly. Improper drainage can lead to water damage.

2.  ROOF - From the ground, examine shingles to see if any were lost or damaged during winter. Shingles that are cracked, buckled or loose or are missing granules need to be replaced. Flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys should also be checked.

3.  FOUNDATION - Inspect for indications of cracks or movement. Also look for cracks in your walls or ceiling or doors and windows that aren't closing properly.

4.  WOOD TRIM - Inspect wood trim on your home for cracks, dry rot or signs of termites. Repairs should be done before the spring rains do more damage to the exposed wood. Remove firewood that was stored near the home over the winter.

5.  FAUCETS & HOSES - Check your outside faucets for freeze damage. Also check your garden hoses for dry rot.

6.  FIREPLACE - If you used your fireplace a great deal during the winter months, you should have it cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep.

7.  AIR CONDITIONING - For the most efficient cooling, have your unit cleaned and serviced by a professional. The best time to do this is before it gets too hot outside. Not only will you avoid the headache of having your air conditioning go out on the hottest day of the year, you will probably pay less for service in a non-peak time. Also make sure to change interior filters on a regular basis.

8.  LAWN - Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled to avoid damage from yard flooding during spring rains. Standing water also is a breeding ground for mosquitos so it is best to make sure your lawn doesn't have spots where water can pool. Also check your lawn equipment to make sure it is ready for summer use.

If you need an expert to help with repairs around your home, give us a call at (817) 330-9235. We have assembled a team of professionals who can assist you in getting your home in tip-top shape for spring.

For more great tips, visit our website.

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Sullivan & Sullivan Real Estate Team Aims to Empower Seniors to be Proactive about Late-in-Life Housing Choices

Seminar Educates Seniors and their Families on Options for Downsizing

As the population ages, more and more senior citizens and their caregiver families are faced with the challenges of “downsizing" -- a move for the elder from a larger family home into a smaller home, apartment, or senior living community.

To help Dallas/Fort Worth seniors and their families accomplish this life transition with the most ease, real estate agents, Ingrid and John Sullivan of the Sullivan & Sullivan Team at Keller Williams Arlington, have put together a free seminar entitled “Downsizing Made Easy." The next two events are scheduled for:

March 21 from 10:00 am to 11:30 pm at Watercrest Mansfield and

March 26 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm at Heritage Village in Hurst

"In many cases home ownership proves to be a financial burden and a source of isolation for seniors. While remaining in the home may have been a goal earlier in life, by the time home ownership starts to feel unmanageable, the prospect of evaluating other options and actually moving, can feel completely overwhelming," says Ingrid.

That is exactly the reason that the Sullivans have stepped into the role of DFW's top advocates for a proactive, positive approach to where and how to spend one's later years. For more than six years, the Sullivans have made it their mission to help older adults navigate the obstacles they face as they begin thinking about downsizing and selling their home.

In the last few years, homeowners over 65 accounted for about 25% of all homes sold, and that figure is on the rise. As such, the Sullivans are urging seniors to evaluate their options and make decisions about late-in-life housing arrangements well before they get to the point that decisions have to be made for them. "It's never too early to become informed, " Ingrid emphasizes.

During their hour-and-a-half presentation, the Sullivans present a framework for getting started on a plan, and urge attendees to look at all of the options available for a new chapter of life that require less maintenance and allow for more freedom and fun. Guest speakers will include specialists in Title and Escrow, Packing and Moving, Home Repair and Estate Sales.

“As a DFW Realtor who specializes in helping senior citizens and their families with their real estate needs, this part of my job is a great joy. Seniors and their families often don't know which way to turn when making these important decisions and we are happy to be here to help,” says Ingrid.

To find out more, or to register for the free event, please visit www.SeniorDownsizingExperts.com.

Technorati Tags: seniors,downsizing,seminar,watercrest,town village