April Showers bring Spring Flowers…and TO DO LISTs!

Finally, NO MORE SNOW! Now it’s time to prepare a calendar for your “To Do List”, those items that you have to keep up with every year and those that you just didn’t tackle last year…here is another chance.

1. First step – Prioritize. I find it simple and most efficient to place the things on
top of the list that don’t need to be done by you and that might need some time to
prepare for – like getting landscape quotes for larger projects, etc…
Reaching out to contractors and requesting quotes in January/February might seem like the best idea but I find it is often more beneficial if you can wait until March/April which then allows the landscape companies to really see what their work load looks like. This is a great way to get the best price – if they’re very busy already, you can sometimes avoid the higher price-tag (quotes) and if they’re too slow – you will see that right in the estimate! Obviously, lawn care companies and landscape contractors are the ones I always try to get referrals for and usually use the ‘ones’ I know or that someone I know knows. But, regardless…always get (3) estimates!
2. Step 2 – How’s the outside of the building looking? Are all those old seams
stuck together or are they separating? Take a really close look at the
exterior/siding, you would be surprised at how often houses may look great from
a distance, but stand 12”-16” away and you begin to see it from a new light.
Good from afar, far from good! All those paint cracks on the trim, which allow
rain and moisture in need to be sealed (caulked). This is the FIRST ENEMY that
attacks the un-protected areas of your home. As that happens, don’t be surprised
as time passes if you see ants living within the moldings and corners…
3. Step 3 — Check the sill of the foundation. Does it look good? Sometimes that
foam you originally used to seal and protect becomes too brittle as it is so close to
the ground/surface, creating an opportunity for moisture to get in.
4. Step 4 — Walk around the foundation and see how the finish grade shifted. You
may need to take a rake (or shovel) to it, and once again slope it away from the
house. Allowing it to puddle against the foundation is only inviting water in.
This is something most people just do not think of checking until their carpet is
soaked in the family room located in the basement.
5. Step 5 – Roofline and chimney. Having a good set of binoculars on hand is
always a good idea to skim the exterior roof line and chimney!
6. Step 6 — How’s the driveway? Sealing and filling those cracks are important to
promote longevity of the asphalt/concrete. If you plan on seal coating the asphalt,
that is great but the rule is to not to over do it, every other year should be
sufficient. Having too much will cause flaking and contribute to cracking.

Craig DiPetrillo – DiPetrillo Properties – Planning, Investments, Construction

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