Home Girls: Time to think about home maintenance

No matter where you live, seasonal changes in temperature and moisture levels require maintenance. Here are some easy fall maintenance tasks from Shoreline resident and real estate broker Linda Williford to help maintain your house in good condition.

• Change the batteries in your smoke detector.
• Fire experts suggest changing the batteries twice a year.
• An easy way to remember—change your batteries at the beginning and end of Daylight Saving Time.
• Drain a gallon or two of water from your water heater to extend its life expectancy.
• Clear your roof gutters of leaves and other debris.
• Check Downspouts to make sure they are properly directing drain water away from your foundation.
• Trim shrubs and trees so that they clear the foundation, exterior walls, and roof of the house.
• Shrubbery that's too close to the house can promote the growth of mildew, mold, and algae, particularly during warmer weather.
• Root growth can damage foundations. 
• Limbs can scrape paint on siding and trim. 
• Inspect the exterior walls and foundation for evidence of damage, cracking or movement.
• Watch for bird nests or other vermin or insect activity. 
• Clean windows and test their operation.
• Improve caulking and weather-stripping as necessary.
• Watch for evidence of rot in wood window frames.
• Paint and repair windowsills and frames as necessary. 
• Test the overhead garage door opener to ensure that the auto-reverse mechanism is responding properly.
• Clean and lubricate hinges, rollers and tracks on overhead doors.
• Replace or clean exhaust hood filters.

Tips to help keep your 'Home Sweet Home' !

Linda (Reinke) Williford, 206-399-3349, Keller Williams Realty Greater Seattle