(BPT) - Before leaving on your summer vacation, it's important to remember a crucial part of your planning: preparing your home for your extended time away. With extreme temperatures, periods of drought and severe storms being some of the many elements your home might face when you’re away, it’s important to take time to do proper prep so that you don’t arrive back home to a nasty — and costly — surprise. The team at Groundworks is sharing five steps to help make sure your home is in tip-top shape when you return.
1. Maintain Your Gutters and Downspouts Before departing, clean your gutters and inspect them for any signs of damage. Ensure downspouts are directing water at least five feet away from your home.
Clogged or damaged gutters can lead to water pooling around your foundation, causing potential damage to your foundation and basement. 2. Inspect Your Foundation Your home's foundation is its backbone, and making sure it’s structurally sound before you leave is important.
Be sure to walk the perimeter and look for signs of foundation issues, such as cracks in walls and floors, doors that stick, or uneven floors. These issues can worsen over time if left unattended, so if you see any, it’s time to fix them. One of the best ways to ensure your home is in good health is to schedule a professional home inspection.
Professional inspectors use advanced tools to detect issues that might not be visible to the untrained eye, providing a comprehensive assessment of you.