5 Home Maintenance Fails New Homeowners Make

Owning a home for the very first time is an exciting accomplishment, but it's also a learning experience. Yo've just moved in, and now you need to figure out how to actually maintain the integrity of your home. As the seasons change, so will your maintenance needs. Keep reading to learn about the five common home maintenance fails you might be making throughout your first year of homeownership.

1. Letting the grass get too long

If you like in a community with an HOA, there are probably strict rules about keeping your grass short. If you don't keep your yard well-maintained, you could face possible fines, which should motivate you to get the mower out. However, for those of you who don't have to follow the rules of HOA, it can be easy to let your grass get a little too wild.

Aside from the eyesore overgrown grass creates, it also makes for the perfect hiding places for ordents and other critters. this might not be a big deal to some people, but once a family of mice gets comfortable in your lawn, their next vacation getaway is in your living room when the cold hits. So do yourself a favor and don't "wait until next week" to cut the grass.

2. Forgetting to clean the gutters

As a new homeowner, cleaning the gutters might be the last thing on your mind. I know you have so many other home maintenance chores to complete, but gutters clogged with leaves, sticks and other debris can be a nightmare in the cooler months.

If your gutters cannot provide proper drainage for melting snow or increased rainfall, the water can end up leaking into your ome instead. If you're comfortable with using a ladder, cleaning your gutters can easily be done yourself. You can also call a professional to get the job done if heights aren't really your thing.

3. Not trimming back trees

Was the tree planted too close to the home, or was the home built too close to the tree? At this point, I'm not really sure it matters. What does matter is that you are keeping the tree trimmed back and healthy.

Limbs and branches close to or touching your house can cause some serious damage, and the phone call to your insurance company will not be fun after a storm rolls through. Trim back any branches or limbs so they are at least 6 feet away from your home, and if the tree seems to be dying, you should consider getting it removed all together.

4. Ignoring the moss growing on the house

Moss = Moisture. Frankly, neither is good for your home. If you see any moss growing on your roof or siding, you'll want to remvoe it as soon as possible. The longer you let the moss grow, the more moisture it will retain, causing mold and water damage.

5. Leaving the leaves

When I was younger, I never understood why we have to rake up all of the pretty leaves just to send them away in trash bags designed like jack-o-lanterns. It jsut seemed to be a lot of work for no reason.

Well, as I got older, I also got wiser(ish). As most functioning adults should know by now, if you don't remove the leaves it will suffocate your grass. Although the grass is already on its deathbed for the fall season, the roots underground are still alove and well. If you want your beautiful lawn to grow back in the spring, you'll need to get rid of the leaves first.

Looking for more advice about managing your home? Visit https://www.realestateinbowlinggreen.com/blog/category/company-news for more real estate tips and tricks!