By Marissa Sainz, October 11, 2021
We have a large pine tree in the front of our house and let me tell you… I knew fall was officially here by the amount of fallen needles I woke up to this morning. As I was sweeping up needles from the driveway I thought, this is a perfect time to upload my top fall maintenance tips! So, without further ado…
1. Gutter Cleaning
Here comes the rain and with it, falling leaves and needles. Gutter maintenance is extraimportant living in Portland where heavy rainfall and lush terrain can clog gutters seemingly overnight. Additionally, debris build-up may attract critters and unwelcome pests. Head over to my annual list home maintenance for more info on gutter cleaning!
I suggest installing gutter guards to prevent excess debris from getting in. We installed gutter guards on our own house and when we moved into our new home, we knew it was something we couldn’t live without. Check out Powell and Sons’ gutter cover installation services — a great family-owned local business to support!
Roof Maintenance
Gutter cleaning is a great opportunity to perform a maintenance check for roof leaks. The LAST thing you want to deal with during the rainy season is a leaky roof. Keep an eye out for heavy debris, excess moss, and damaged shingles. Chipped shingles and damaged rubber are cues for immediate repairs.
For the safety of my clients, I don’t suggest performing your own roof maintenance. Check out a few of these Portland-based resources below.
Landscaping
Now that the summer growth cycle is over, it’s a great time to trim back trees and large shrubs around the yard. Not only will this yield better growth next season, but this will lessen the amount of fallen debris around the yard and in the gutters!
If summer of 2022 is anything like this summer and we experience another round of severe heat waves, I suggest you prepare your lawn now. Rake any fallen leaves, mow the lawn, and sprinkle lawn seed evenly across the area. The fall seasonal rain will encourage a beautiful, lush lawn by spring.
Detectors
It’s about time to turn on the heat and unbox the electric blankets. As your furnace roars back to life for the first time this year, make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working, clean, and batteries are changed. Keep in mind: lithium batteries are designed to last 10 years, but 9-volt alkaline and AA batteries must be changed twice a year! For extra precaution, wipe detectors down with a damp cloth. Excess dust buildup can affect the detectors ability to sense smoke and carbon monoxide properly.
Blast from the past! If you’re seeing this blog in the future and it’s no longer the fall season, check out my blog on general annual home maintenance tips. If you have any questions about home maintenance or are a new owner of a Portland home, reach out. I have more tips and would love to chat.
Marissa Sainz
Broker | Earth Advantage | OR
She/Her
Whether you want to live in a hip Pearl District condo or a unique east side bungalow I am here to help you find the perfect home.
The Pearl District and the close in surrounding neighborhoods are exciting and evolving areas and where I focus my business.
It is important in our changing real estate world, where location is so vital to home buyers, to work with a neighborhood expert. We all want to live near our local grocery store and within walking distance of our favorite coffee spot, restaurants and parks.
I am here to guide buyers and sellers through the process every step of the way, if you are a first time home buyer searching for the perfect starter home or looking to move as your family and lifestyle change.
Marissa earned a degree in finance with a concentration in real estate from The University of Texas at Austin. Before coming to residential real estate in Portland Marissa worked for both a national and local commercial real estate firm. Around town Marissa is involved with the Women in Insurance and Financial Services Portland chapter as well as the Women's Council of REALTORS®.
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- T: 512-736-6111
- marissa@livingroomre.com
