Ways To Winter-Proof Your Home & Maintain Its Vaue & Appeal

After months of harsh sunshine, heat and dry summer conditions, many homes around South Africa will soon be exposed to cold, damp and wet winter weather.

These extremes, coupled with general wear and tear, can cause damage and deterioration to houses. Preventative maintenance is key to not only getting your home ready for winter but also keeping it in good condition all year round and maintaining its value.

"The cost of homeownership doesn't end with the buying price, and home maintenance must be included in any annual budget. A little cost-effective DIY maintenance to winter-proof your home now could save you thousands of rands come summer," says Nadia, Property Practitioner of DG Properties. "If you are trying to sell your home it is also particularly important that you don't allow winter weather to cause damage which could deter potential buyers."

DG Properties offers a list of cost-saving home maintenance tips to get your home ready for winter, and maintain its value, whilst looking its best while on the market.

1) Start at the top

"Start at the top and check your roof for leaks," says Nadia. "Look for damaged, loose, or missing tiles, lifting or rusted roof sheets, and if your roof is flat, check for signs of blistering or bubbles. Treating potential leaks before the wet weather arrives can save thousands in water damage caused by leaks."

 2) Get your mind in the gutter

"Make sure that your gutters are clean and clear of debris such as dead leaves and grass. Blocked gutters overflow and can cause damage to your roof, house exterior and even foundation. Also check for any damage to the gutter system - cracks, sagging, gaps at the joins etc."

3) Wooden it be nice

"Check all of the wood trim on the exterior and interior of your home for damage, rotting and active infestation of termites. This includes any wood trim around your exterior doors and windows, roof eves and verandas," advises Nadia.

"Also check wooden decking to see if it needs a fresh application of varnish. Even if your deck is made of treated or rot-resistant wood, it still needs protection. To do this, simply pour some water on it - if the water beads up, then you're good. If the wood absorbs the water, it's time to clean and seal your deck again."

4) Don't skim the surfaces

It is not only wooden surfaces that require attention, cautions Nadia. "If you have a concrete patio, driveways or walkways, you need to make sure they're protected as well. All concrete eventually develops cracks and it is important to take the time to inspect your concrete and fill in any cracks before you apply sealer so that water cannot get in over the winter."

 5) Check the drainage around your home

"Make sure the soil around your foundation hasn't settled and created areas for water to pool. If you find a low spot fill it in with some soil. Then go around and check your rain gutter downspouts. Make sure water is getting moved away from the home."

6) Paint it pretty

Nadia says that paint not only makes your home look good, it acts as a protective layer against the elements. "Check if you could do with a coat of fresh paint. Always choose the best paint you can afford - good quality paint pays for itself in the long run as it last longer so you will need to repaint less often."

7) Smoking hot

"Ensure that your fireplace and chimney are in perfect working order before starting to use it this winter. Check for birds' nests, for any cracks or holes in the chimney flue and in the bricks surrounding your fireplace, and for any other obstructions or faults. A faulty fireplace or unseen obstruction can cause a very hazardous problem."

8) Mind the gap

Walk around the outside of your home and check every window for small gaps and cracks. Hurling advises that you replace broken or cracked windowpanes and apply new putty if needed. "Conduct a similar check for each exterior door, and pay special attention to the bottom of each door."

9) Don't get caught in the dark

"Whilst not a maintenance issue, winter often sees our electrical grid under pressure, meaning a higher risk of load-shedding and blackouts. This is because of an increased demand on the national power grid as more people turn on heaters and lights. Prepare for load-shedding with back-up power supplies, such as a generator, a UPS (uninterrupted power supply), solar or battery-operated lighting, gas cookers and power packs to keep your lights, cell phones, computers, gate motors, security systems and cookers working at all times."

"If you are proactive when it comes to home-maintenance then you can hopefully avoid any larger issues cropping up that could break the bank," advises Nadia. "Regular home maintenance is key when it comes to trying to sell your property in order to avoid a huge number of costly repairs which may be required to meet buyer expectations, and a neat home that has been well cared for will be more appealing to buyers - a good thing in the current competitive market. So my last word of advice: "Invest a little now to yield great returns later".