Real Estate November 2021
Your home can be your greatest asset if the proper care and maintenance is applied. As the seasons continue to change and the weather brings us to cozy up more indoors, we thought of 10 Parkway approved home maintenance tips, appropriate for this lovely time of year.
Gardening and Raking of Leaves
Before the ground freezes consider planting bulbs such as daffodils and tulips, or perennials such as peonies and hydrangeas. When Spring time comes around that first bloom will be worth all the dirt in your nails. Additionally, fall is a great time to plant new shrubs and trees as well as reseed your lawn. Before the plants go dormant make sure you give them plenty of water! With Fall comes leaves, and once they start falling the season of raking begins! There is nothing wrong with a thin layer of leaves across your lawn, in fact it can act as a natural mulch. However, if the layer becomes too thick mold can begin to form underneath all those leaves.An alternative option to raking is to actually mow over the leaves weekly. Some neighborhoods encourage this more than just bagging up all the leaves.
Image from a past Taryn Mehan listing.12 Saint Helens LaneDRE# 01842941
Image from a past Barroso Team listing. 3082 Sweetwater Falls, Chico 95973DRE #01434090
Clean and Inspect the Drain Gutters
Gutters can easily go unnoticed however, they play a crucial role in protecting your home from water damage. Gutters help control the flow of rainwater on your home and provide protection to your home’s roof, siding and foundation. Clogged or damaged gutters can cause roof leaks or water infiltration in your home. For the best results, gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year or even more frequently depending on how many trees surround your home.
Our Parkway-approved local recommendation for gutter cleaning is Squeaky Clean Window Washing. In addition to gutter cleaning they also provide services in window washing, solar panel cleaning, and power washing for both commercial and residential properties.
Chimney Cleaning
It might put a damper on Christmas if Santa’s suit gets dirty. If you did not get your chimney swept in the Spring now would be a great time. Keeping your chimney in tip-top shape helps prevent dangerous chimney fires, as well as reduce the build-up of soot residue. Before you begin using your fireplace and furnace this cozy season, consider giving your chimney a thorough cleaning. One of our recommendations is White Glove Chimney. They can help keep your home warm, secure and healthy and specialize in servicing and repairing your chimney or fireplace system to ensure a secure living environment. They take their job seriously in order to protect your property, you and your family.
Image from a current Barroso Team listing. 865 E 6th Street, Chico 95928DRE #01434090
Image from a past Jana Humplik-Osborn listing. 2429 Irene Street, Chico 95926DRE# 02086442
Checking Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
A seemingly simple task that can easily be missed. Check both your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detectors regularly to ensure that everything is working smoothly.Tip: The batteries in both your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be switched out 1-2 times each year. When you set your clocks back to standard time don’t forget to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors too!
Weather Stripping Around Windows
When compared to insulated ceilings and walls, windows allow more heat to escape from a room in the winter and even more heat to enter in the summer. Window treatments can create a huge difference with keeping you comfortable and boosting your home’s overall energy efficiency. According to the Department of Energy, a home can lose up to 30% of its cooling and heating energy through windows. Weather stripping around windows and energy efficient window coverings really can make all the difference.
Good window treatments and cozy flannel sheets from Nantucket Design + Home will help keep the cold out and the warmth in this winter.
Image from a past Barroso Team listing.865 E 6th Street, Chico, California 95928DRE #01434090
Image from a now pending Jensen Group listing. 849 Sherwood Way, Willows 95988 DRE #01990048 and DRE #01990102
Show Some Extra TLC to Everyday Appliances
There are many appliances throughout our homes that can go unnoticed. As a homeowner you do not constantly have to service each and every appliance. However, a little extra care here and there can help prolong the quality and useful life of that given appliance. Below we’ve listed 7 quick ideas to calendar each year…1. Verify your oven door has a tight seal.2. Clean coils in your refrigerator. 3. Change your refrigerator water filter.4. Fix rusty dish rack tines.5. Clean and deodorize your garbage disposal.6. Clean your dryer exhaust. 7. Inspect washing machine hoses.Maintenance is key to help improve and preserve the value of your home!
Wash Sidings and Touch Up On Exterior Paint
Get on your painters list now for the spring!After the winter weather comes to an end, it is always a good idea to give the exterior of your home a fresh wash followed by some new paint. This will help brighten and boost the the curb appeal of your home! In need of a local painter? We recommend Matthew Begbie from True Finish Painting and Aaron Dutra from Upscale Painting!
Image from a now pending Barroso Team listing. 57 Skymountain Circle, Chico 95928DRE #01434090
Image from a current Barroso Team listing. 643 Stilson Canyon Road, Chico 95928DRE #01434090
Refresh Air and Water Filters
Any appliance that cleans air or water at some point will need some attention! While every filter has a different lifespan, make sure you check your manuals so that the appropriate amount of attention is given to these filters!
Trim Your Trees
If your property is in Chico, there is a good chance that it is surrounded by trees. As the responsible homeowner that you are it is important to have your trees inspected by a certified arborist. These specialists catch things that the untrained eye could miss such as signs of damage, illness or any dead branches. A dead or dying tree not only proposes a safety hazard to you and your family, but to your home and the neighboring properties, as well.
Image from a current Barroso Team listing. 99 Harvey Road, Chico 95973 DRE #01434090
Image from a past Moni Hosier listing.127 Estates Drive, Chico 95928DRE# 02022115
Maintain Your Roof
Extend the life of your roof by doing a twice yearly from the ground-up visual inspection. Look for buckling, loose or missing roof flashing, lifting or missing shingles, sagging or broken gutters, or piles of granules. Check gutters for shingle debris and while you’re at it, clean out those gutters. Check for moss and remove it. Finally, trim low hanging branches near the roof. Roof maintenance also comes from within… a simple task like checking the attic ventilation and insulation can help save you a lot of money down the road.
cLICK HERE FOR More Home Maintenance Tips from the NEW York Times
“Your house becomes a home when you fall in love with it ”
— Erin Mclaughlin
The Market Overview
The monthly Market Overview for October, and the weekly Total Market Overview for November 1st.
Agent Highlight
Hobie and Stephanie Jensen are a husband and wife real estate team that got their start in the real estate industry in 2009 by purchasing and renovating Hobie’s college house. They both attended Chico State; Hobie studied Construction Management and Sustainable Manufacturing, Stephanie studied Political Science: Legal Studies. After college, they continued to invest in real estate in Chico and decided that being real estate agents and helping others find the joy of home ownership was their true passion. They have been full time realtors since 2015 and continue to invest and renovate homes in the Chico community.
NEW Featured Listings:
Listed by Laurie Maloney 219 Tonea Way, Chico 95973DRE#01310705
Listed by the Barroso Team 643 Stilson Canyon Road Chico, 95928DRE #01434090
Listed by Hobie and Stephanie Jensen 9543 Lott Road, Durham 95938DRE #01990048 and DRE #01990102
