25 critical spring maintenance tips to-do list around your home

Get ready for those warm months ahead

It's that time of year again for spring cleaning around your home. Our 25 critical spring maintenance tips to do around your home are just as important to keep your property in good shape. Regular maintenance keeps your home safe, efficient, and protects the property value. With these helpful
tips you can improve your homes appearance, and prevent future costly repairs on your property.

1.   Inspect wood on exterior for signs soft wood rot

2.   Clean windows

3.   Inspect exterior screens for tears, rips, or bent frames – repair as needed

4.   Change batteries in smoke detectors

5.   Check for fire hazards around the home - overloaded extension cords

6.   Clear clutter from all exits, hallways, and stairs

7.   Clear debris in gutters and outdoor spaces

8.   Clean out garage, and shed

9.   Clean out attic space

10. Clean drier vent system – Lint buildup causes fires and causes the drier to run longer and waste energy

11. Check condition of outdoor lighting and slip-proof stairs

12. Repair uneven walkways, stairs, or driveway

13. Have the roof inspected for damage, leaks, and loose shingles

14. Check for signs of pests indoors and outside

15. Repair doors, gates, and fences

16. Replace air conditioner filters

17. Maintain a seasonal service to your air conditioner

18. Drain sediment from hot water heater

19. Clean the deck and patio

20. Pressure clean the homes exterior, walkways, and driveway

21. Trim foliage away from touching your home

22. Check and examine washer water supply hoses for cracks – replace as needed

23. Check and examine the condition of paint around your home – Spring is a good time to paint the exterior

24. Clean debris from roof

25. Seal and protect decks

 Mr. Fix-It Handyman Service offers home repairs and maintenance for homeowners in the greater Jacksonville area.

2013 Home Improvement Trends

Now is the time to begin improving your home. With this years home improvement trends you can agree.They are easy on the eyes, safe for the environment, and easy on your pocketbook. Here is what is gaining attention in 2013 for homeowners.

Curb appeal can make a big difference to the appearance of your home in a short period of time and it adds value to your home in the down market. Choose a bold and bright finishes with a pop of color. This year colors are tangerine, yellow, or deep purple for the entry door. If lower maintenance is on your mind improvements like fiber cement siding,
vinyl siding, vinyl fencing, and composite decking would be the preferred choice, since the traditional home products

were accomplished with wood. As wood tends to
need consistent upkeep like painting, and repair or
replacement, there are newer materials on the

market now such as cellular or PVC for moldings and trim that can attain a long life with minimal care.

Go Green with new products such as paint, compact fluorescent light bulbs which last 10 times longer than the traditional light bulb, A effective way to become more energy efficient is to insulate your house. By adding insulation in your attic, you could save on your energy
bill’s monthly. If your one of those American’s that choose to do repairs, then this is for you. Since your being a bit more budget minded conscious. You could think about choosing smaller scale projects and make compromises on super high-end finishes.

Special purpose rooms are topping the list this year. Home offices and mudrooms. With outdoor living spaces are chosen third.

Painting: paint ceilings a lighter shade than the walls. It will trick the eye, thinking the ceilings are higher. Coordinate your paint palette with furniture in the room being painted. A design trend this year is painting your furniture with metal like colors.

Paint trends 2013

Kitchen trends

As your kitchen thrives the hub of your home this year, the most practical purpose would be to maximize space without sacrificing simplicity. Maple is the top choice for kitchen cabinets. Two-toned upper and lower cabinet colors give homeowners a larger palette to personalize

the space. Painting cabinets with white, black, and gray hues are on the rise. Big open kitchens are popular, consider opening up walls to merge some rooms together if possible.




Bathroom trends

In the bathroom, consider using large-scale tile and small mosaics or tiles with printed designs. Think about updating your vanity, customizing it with useful storage and thoughtful design to suit your space.



Cost verses Value reports have arrived in Remodeling Magazine. This years results are amazing and are rising from last years down fall. Our top picks this year for the south-east Atlantic give the biggest return on your investment for 2013 home improvements. The cost recouped value must meet our 75% standards. Here is the list of projects that attain the best investment this year: Attic bedroom, Basement remodel, Wooden deck addition, Steel entry door replacement, Garage door replacement, Minor kitchen remodel, Vinyl siding replacement, Foam backed vinyl siding replacement, and Fiber cement siding replacement.

This years best investment tops our chart for giving the best return. We advise a Steel entry door replacement, since it attains the 92.2% cost recouped value.

Prepare your home before a hurricane

Prepare your home before a hurricane

Helpful and practical tips that a homeowner needs to prepare for, before the big storm hits.

Homeowner To-Do List

Take before pictures of all contents in each room of your home. Place these pictures in a safety deposit box in a dry waterproof container inside the home in a safe place. Make additional copies for the insurance adjuster and store these pictures in a waterproof container and keep with you during the storm.

1.)   Board up all windows and door ways. Don’t forget to protect all sliding glass doors and large windows. Fact: 80% of major structural roof damage to most homes is caused from the source of garage doors, as they were not protected properly.

2.)   Remove all outside personal belongings: high winds could lift the objects making projectiles! Remove items such as chairs, patio furniture, garden hoses, sprinklers, pool toys, flower pots and planters, and etc.

3.)   Fill your vehicle full of gas. Tip: Gas stations tend to close for weeks (during and after a storm).

4.)   Obtain a generator: precaution in case after the storm when power goes out. Fill the generator full of gas.  Fill several large gas cans full of gas. Store them in a protected area (store them in a well ventilated area away from you and your family). Store and use heavy gauge power cords to generator.

5.)   Obtain an emergency disaster kit for each family member. Keep supplies for after the storm. Obtain enough supplies for several weeks. This includes food and water.

6.)   Make lots of ice, for coolers of food. Fill bottles of water and place them in freezer hours before the storm hits. As power goes out during the storm place some bottles in refrigerator as needed.

7.)   Keep a stocked First-Aid kit handy at all times during and after a storm.

8.)   Obtain work gloves for every family member for clean-up efforts after the storm. Store rakes, brooms, dust-pans, shovels, hammers, large garbage or debris bags, and tools in a tool box inside the home in a protected area. Charge all battery powered tools before the storm hits.

9.)   Protect your home from flash floods. Bags of sand or Sand bags are quite effective for doorways and entranceways in low line areas.

10.)           Store important protective documents and family photos in large Zip-lock bags. Keep your home Insurance info handy for after the storm.

11.)           Stock up on non-refrigerated foods, dry foods and can goods are essentials. This will be your food source during and after the storm.

12.)           Fill gas grill tank full and store your gas grill in a safe protected area. For after the storm.

13.)           Plan for a secondary cooking source. Small camping stoves work great for this purpose. Obtain plenty of fuel for long power outages. Power outages can last many weeks.

14.)           Obtain enough of batteries for flashlights. Flashlights batteries tend to die quickly. Obtain Candles and matches for power outages after the storm.

15.)           Chaulk and seal all exposed exterior areas of windows and doorways to prevent water penetration. High winds cause water to penetrate the structure which causes mold and wood-rot issues after the storm.

16.)           Obtain several box fans to dry up the interior of home after the storm. De-humidifiers work great to help reduce the chance of mold and moisture issues after the storm.

17.)           Obtain a radio, for current broadcast issues for weather related problems during a storm. Remember tornados, lighting, hail, and flash floods are common during hurricanes.

18.)           Obtain personal things to keep your family occupied during the storm.

19.)           Obtain large tarps to cover roof after storm. It may rain after the storm, in many cases shingles fly off the roof and become missing during a hurricane. As the potential need for roofers to get booked full of work after a storm. It can take many weeks for your actual roof repair or replacement to be completed. Also it takes additional time for insurance adjusters to complete your claim after the storm. So be prepared for the cause and effect of future roof issues

If staying inside a home during a storm: The safest place to keep you and the family is in hallway. Remember to keep clear away from all doors windows as projectiles may come thru these areas and cause serious injury. Think smart cover yourself: use a mattress to cover you and your family during the storm, if shall your home falls apart, this is your only protection from falling objects overhead.

See also: http://hurricanesafety.org/prepare/hurricane-safety-checklists/