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Myke Leatham | Brazos County Realty

Myke Leatham | Brazos County Realty

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Home Maintenance in the Fall

October 15, 2019 by Myke Leatham

Fall is finally here, which means winter is right around the corner. In the colder parts of the country, those winter months can reap costly damage if homeowners aren’t prepared. Below are some tips on fall home maintenance you should focus on this season.

1. Trees, Shrubs, & Garden

Falling tree limbs could be a major hazard in the winter, and fall is the perfect time to address them. A professional tree service will be able to examine the trees on your property for signs of failing health to help prevent tree loss and prune correctly to avoid any branches falling off. Take extra care with any limbs that are growing close to the roof or power lines.

In the northern regions, fall is actually a great time to fertilize and reseed the lawn. Although the grass may appear to stop growing this time of year, its roots are actually growing deeper into the ground to prepare for the snowy months. Now is also a good time to prune any shrubs; after the leaves turn, careful pruning will encourage healthy growth. When you’re finished, make sure to clean off your gardening tools before putting them in storage for winter.

2. Leaves

The changing leaves are synonymous with autumn and can look beautiful covering the lawn. However, if not taken care of before the snow, those leaves can prevent growth in the spring. When large layers of leaves get wet, they can become compact and suffocate the lawn beneath. This also facilitates an environment ripe for infestation and germs. By making sure to regularly rake the lawn, particularly before any snowfalls, you can help keep your lawn healthy for spring.

To make the job as easy as possible, put on some gardening gloves to protect your hands, use a lightweight rake, and scoop the piles into bags. However, you could also consider putting those leaves to good use in your garden. Leaves are rich in nutrients and can be used for composting, insulating your garden, and enriching your soil. Just make sure to shred the leaves first. A leaf shredder will be the most efficient, but a lawn mower will achieve the same results.

3. Gutters

All those leaves coming down can also clog your gutters and downspouts if left unchecked. When it rains, or the snow melts, clogged gutters will cause the water to pool which can cause damage to your siding or roof. It can also create ice dams To prevent this, make sure to regularly clean them out during the fall months. The drainage areas should be entirely unblocked by leaves, twigs, or other debris.

For the roof, you’ll probably need to break out a ladder. Use extreme caution when doing this, or hire a professional if you’re unsure. And to save yourself headaches in the future, consider installing some gutter guards to prevent clogging.  EcoWatch has designed a homeowner’s guide outlining the average cost of gutter installation and the environmental impact of gutter materials.

4. Safety

Those of you that live in seasonally cold regions know how dangerous it can be just to walk to your front door when it’s icy out. To prepare, make a point in the fall to look for wobbly railings or loose stairs, and refasten or replace anything that doesn’t feel sturdy. Also, take a look at your driveway and walkways- smooth surfaces make for much easier shoveling, so repair any cracks or consider repaving if needed.

If you’ve never checked for radon, fall is a good time to do so. As the weather gets colder, you’re more likely to keep the windows and doors shut more often- and trap radon in, which is very harmful at high levels. While you’re at it, test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace any batteries as needed. Finally, if you own a wood-burning fireplace, be sure to inspect and clean it before the cold weather sets in to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and chimney fires.

5. Plumbing

An commonly known but easily forgotten rule is to shut off the water to your exterior faucets before temperatures drop below freezing and the pipes freeze and burst. In case the pipes do freeze, make sure you know where your shut-off valve is located. Any hoses should not only be drained, but also stored indoors before the winter- leaving them attached could cause water to back up in the pipes and freeze.

If you have an irrigation system, this will also need to be drained. Irrigation lines, even if buried, can freeze in the winter and leave you with busted pipes and sprinklers. The process to drain the system will differ depending on whether it is a manual or automatic valve, so research carefully.

6. Insulate

According to Energy.Gov, between 25% to 30% of residential heating use is due to heat loss through windows. To save on energy this winter, weatherstripping is an easy, low-cost solution. Apply the stripping around windows and door frames to seal the heat inside. Door sweeps can also help along the bottoms of drafty doors. For additional energy saving, grab some exterior caulk and take a trip around the exterior of the home to seal any cracks between the trim and siding.

Next, journey up to the attic to make sure the insulation is still in order. If installed correctly, the vapor barrier should be facing down; if it’s facing up, it will trap moisture and cause water damage. Also, make sure the insulation isn’t covering any vents, which could cause ice dams on the roof.

7. HVAC

If you have window air conditioning units, fall is the time to take those down. If that’s not possible, use an insulating wrap to cover the exterior of the unit to prevent drafts. For central units, it’s not necessary to wrap the entire unit for the winter- doing so can actually cause condensation, which could corrode the unit. However, it is smart to place a piece of plywood on top of the unit for protection from falling icicles in the winter.

Now for your furnace or heating system. Make sure to replace the filters before you start using it regularly. This is something homeowners should do every 2-3 months regardless, but if you’re behind on the maintenance, now is the time. The system should also be inspected and cleaned by a licensed HVAC technician- this is important to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, and ensure peak performance through the winter.

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Category: 1st time home buyer education, Brazos Valley Housing Market, Bryan Community, Bryan Housing market, Bryan MLS, buying a house, buying and selling real estate, College Station Community, College Station housing market, College Station MLS, College Station Realtor, College Station rentals, Community, Community Calendar, First-time buyer, home for sale Bryan, home for sale College Station, Homes for sale, house hunting, Housing Resources, Investment properties in College Station, Luxury Homes, Market Conditions, Market Conditions, realtor.com, Student properties, TAMU Housing, TX, Zillow

About Myke Leatham

I’m so glad you found me – your College Station and Bryan, TX real estate source! When you choose to buy or sell a home in College Station/Bryan, TX or other surrounding areas using our expert services, you will receive a free consultation to determine your needs, free listings, and free reports sent to you by email. These weekly reports will show you how hard the members of my team are working to accomplish your property goals, and we guarantee the best service and consultation you have ever experienced. You’ll find the best community information for the College Station, Texas region right here.

It’s nice to know YOUR Realtor will still be of service after the sale.

Experience Counts: Broker/Owner of Brazos County Realty
Over 25 years of sales experience. With past ABR, GRI, CRS, & Epro designations.
Continuing education in real estate: Education is paramount in an ever changing industry like Real Estate. Myke has taken over 1000 hours of real estate specific courses which include but are not limited to: Residential Appraisal, Marketing, Law Contracts I & II, Finance, Residential Inspections, Principles and Practice, Law of Agency, Code of Ethics, Bankruptcy/Easements/Surveys/and Probate, Home Warranties, 1031 Exchanges and hundreds of hours of extensive real estate training.

Reputation: SALES LEADER since 1998; Top Producer 2000 through 2009. Listed among the top agents in the county. Consistently ranked among top realtors for total sales volume out of 900 realtors for commercial and residential real estate in the Bryan/College Station, TX area. When Myke represents buyers, she presents all viable options to her clients, including those properties that are not officially listed, but could be available for sale based on her inside information. Her expertise lies with investors and marketing homes of all price ranges in College Station/Bryan to local, national and global buyers, across all major media channels and through her extensive, personal network of contacts.

Myke is among the top 1% of all Realtors in North America!
She has earned the Designations of ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative), CRS(Certified Residential Specialist), GRI (Graduate of Realtors Institute)CHMS (Certified Home Marketing Specialist), and E-pro (Certified Internet Professional)
Fewer than 3% of all Realtors nationwide earn these certifications. They are not only a symbol of Myke’s commitment to this business, but these designations are your assurance of a skilled, trained real estate professional.

Myke is a consummate real estate professional who not only understands the art of deal-making, but also the art of relationships. She makes the process of buying and selling homes an uplifting and fun experience. She has a tremendous appreciation for Bryan and College Station, its rich history, and Texas A&M traditions having lived in the area for 25 years. Her knowledge of Bryan/College Station’s real estate market and market trends is unparalleled. Having been personally involved with clients through their remodeling, purchasing and selling processes, she knows intrinsic quality and value when she sees it. When she doesn’t see it she lets her clients know, without hesitation.
Myke’s proven track record and affiliations in the field of real estate demonstrates her high level of professionalism.

* High energy and enthusiasm
* Aggressive marketing
* Expert negotiating skills
* Ability to listen and ascertain customer’s desires and needs
* Fun to be with
* Internet savvy
* Because Myke is an experienced investor, she quickly helps her customers locate and define good business opportunities. No one likes the feeling of being ‘sold to’ so Myke provides as much information as possible to help you make the right decision.

Personal Commitment:
I am prepared to go the ‘Extra Mile’ for you, because I understand the financial and emotional significance of purchasing and selling your home. I will carefully listen to your desires and arrive at a workable plan. I believe sensitivity, listening, and service are important keys to success.
Whether you are buying or selling a home or you are just curious about your home’s market value, I’d be happy to provide my market expertise and intelectual property without obligation, or meet with you to evaluate your home for future reference. I want my customers to have a great time and enjoy the total process of purchasing or selling property. It gives me great pride when my customerspass my name on to their friends and family. I will continue to work hard to make sure critical information is available at www.AggieRealEstate.com and I invite all interested investors to search my site for cash flow opportunities. I will dedicate my time and talents to helping you achieve your goals. It is my goal to make your buying and selling experience extraordinary. Look closely and you’ll see how much I love meeting and working with people. You’ll experience the difference in working with an experienced and dedicated professional.

Personal information:
Michelle goes by ‘Myke’ and is the proud mother of 6 children – 3 girls and 3 boys. Her husband is David Leatham. They met at Brigham Young University. They have been married since 1977. David is a finance professor, and Associate Head over graduate studies in the Agricultural Economics Department at Texas A&M University, and speaks fluent Spanish. They have lived in College Station since 1983 and loved every minute of it. Myke loves to quilt, sing, swim, ‘sing’, bake bread, ‘sing,’ garden, ‘sing’, sell real estate, and ‘sing some more’ :-). Family, church, and real estate consume most of her time. Truth, honor, integrity, kindness, loyalty, gratitude, and service are very important words to her.

Slogan: ‘Let Myke Help You With Your HOMEwork!’

Referrals: The highest compliment I can get is when you pass my name on to others or post a kind remark on the internet. When you send your friends and family my way, I’ll always provide them with the highest quality of service that I know you would appreciate. Thanks in advance for all your support and friendship.

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