Happy March! Time to Get to Work!

Welcome back on this first day of March! We hope everyone affected by the recent flooding and heavy rain is recovering and drying out by now. This month certainly has certainly in like a lion! March is typically a fickle month in the Tri-State. It could snow, especially early in the month, we could get some nasty storms like we experienced last week, or we could have a stretch of beautiful, warm days that give everyone spring fever (fingers crossed we have more of those). Our vote, of course, is for a dose of early spring weather! After a long winter, we are ready to get out and get some work done on our homes' exteriors or in the yard.

Does anyone else feel this way? We like to call this time the early spring itch. This time of year begins to bring all of us out of our houses and into our yards or neighborhoods. We also find that specifically in our business, it brings out more buyers and sellers who have been waiting to make a move and maybe looking at homes online throughout winter, and that is great. Your ERA First Advantage agent can certainly help you find your new home and sell your current one.

So whether you're in the market to make a move in the coming months or simply want to spiff up your own home sweet home, we have put together a maintenance guide for the month of March. Give yourself the whole month to work on these items, and by the beginning of April, you'll be ready to move on to other projects or just enjoy your beautiful space and all you've accomplished.

• Change out the HVAC filter. It will run more efficiently and safely, especially as the weather warms up.
• Test all your smoke detectors. Replace batteries where needed. If you have carbon monoxide detectors in the home (which you should), check them as well.
• Clean out your gutters and downspouts. We want water to flow freely throughout the upcoming rainy season.
• Clear any debris off your roof and take a look for any missing shingles or other necessary roof repairs. We don't want to welcome spring with a leaky roof!

• Begin trimming trees, bushes, or other plants that are near the house. This will not only help aesthetically with your curb appeal, but will also prevent these plants from growing up the side of your house and doing any damage by rubbing against brick or siding.
• Little by little, remove any dead limbs and plants from your yard and landscaping. As the weather warms, these areas can become a hot bed for insects to live.

• Uncover your crawl space and look inside to make sure it's dry and clear. Test and clean the sump pump if you have one. 
• Clean and inspect your deck and/or porch. Look for necessary repairs like cracks or rot. This is also a great time to re-stain your deck so you can enjoy it when the weather is beautiful!

• Check handrails around decks and porches, and secure if needed for safety. This is especially important if you're thinking of selling your home because buyers will be concerned if the house seems unsafe in any way.
• Look closely at caulking and weather stripping after the harsh winter weather. Repair as needed so moisture doesn't get inside. This project also helps tremendously with energy efficiency.

What else do you work in your home throughout this month? Do you focus more on indoor or outdoor tasks? Do you take on a few projects at a time and split them among the spring months? We would love to hear from you!

Have a fantastic weekend and check back next week!