When the interior of our home needs a deep cleaning, the signs are easy to spot: what about the exterior of your property? Every part of the outside of your home can tell you the moment it needs a thorough cleaning, but many don’t catch the signs it tries to pass on.
These are the top signs that your home’s exterior would benefit from a good cleaning and what you can do to make it look brand new!
Discolored Roof
Discolored roofing doesn’t always mean that you need to replace your roof! If your roof is newer, and you notice it’s discolored, this could be due to a buildup of debris, pollen, dirt, or countless other things that can ruin the fresh and clean look of a new roof. Your roof should be cleaned of any leaves and branches once to three times a year, depending on how many trees are nearby. Be cautious how you clean it because even a slate roof can be damaged if someone who isn’t a professional tries to clean it incorrectly.
Oil Stains in Driveway
Oil stains are a fact of life; they happen to everyone at some point or another: they shouldn’t stain your driveway forever, though. These stains should be taken care of as immediately as possible to stop them from setting in deeper into the surface. A power washer or a fantastic cleaning company knows how to remove oil stains from driveways and get rid of any trace of them.
Siding That’s Dull
Our siding takes up a lot of real estate when it comes to curb appeal. Not only does it describe the color of your home, but it also decides whether people think the home is well cared for or not. If your board and batten siding is looking duller than usual, it could mean that pollen and dirt are sticking to it, sliding into the groves and patterns that make your siding look so good when it’s new. This is another time that a pressure washer is great, but direction and pressure matter.
Windows That Aren’t Clear
How clear are your windows? These portions of our homes control how much sunlight gets in and how clear our outside view is, and they get dirty incredibly easily. Work with a company that can deep clean your windows once pollen and allergy season is over, and they’ll help return your windows to the beautiful state they were in when they were first installed. Deep cleaned windows can change both the indoors and outdoors of a property.
When cleaning, make sure that you check your windows for leaks, and ensure that no water or air is getting through. Correcting this by properly sealing them, or replacing your windows, will help your property value and lower the cost of your monthly heating and cooling bills.
A Deck That Feels Gross
Does your deck feel slimy when you step out onto it? Does the stain seem to be missing, and does it have an overall gray appearance? It might be time to clean your deck. If you can deep clean the surface of your deck and then apply sealant and possibly stain, you’ll come back to an ultimately brand-new-looking deck that will invite you to host parties and get everybody outside enjoying this great space.
Make sure you properly seal your deck after, especially if you have a pool, since water can quickly damage and warm this awesome part of your property if it’s not taken care of well enough.
Your HOA Has Sent a Notice
Although the goal is to maintain it and take care of the problem before it gets this far if you receive notice from your HOA that there’s something about your property that isn’t up to regulations: it’s time to get it cleaned. Homeowner associations exist to ensure your property values stay high and that you don’t have to worry about possibly losing out on your investment because your neighbors don’t maintain their property.
If your HOA has to reach out to you, there’s a chance it might come with a fine. This is usually due to things like roofs that are covered in debris, and driveways and walks that are stained or unsafe. Paying attention to these details will protect you from having to pay any fines or fees in the long run.
Gutters That Don’t Work
When it rains, do your gutters seem to be able to handle all of the rain coming down? Or does rainfall from all portions of your roof without falling into your gutters? You deserve gutters that make sense and offer you the chance to allow your beautiful sage greenhouse to only be green because of paint: not because of mold or moisture buildup. After your gutters are cleared, consider adding gutter guards to stop debris from building up into it again once fall comes back around. Gutters are a lot of work when they’re not well maintained, but they can save your property from flooding and poor soil erosion.
Webs and Buildup
Webs and other signs of bugs and spiders aren’t fun to see, and they can make a home seem older and poorly cared for. Although you can’t keep spiders off of your property forever, you can quickly clean up, so they don’t build more debris and clutter onto your home or hire a great cleaning service to take care of it if the webs get severe. The more you clean up after them, the less likely they’ll sit around and deal with rebuilding a nest that keeps getting cleaned and taken down. Keeping diligent with this is important for every homeowner to keep their property clean!
Your Home Should Dazzle Inside and Out
Our homes are a sense of pride for many people, so it’s vital that you ensure this property is inviting from the moment people pull into your driveway. Keep an eye out for some of these signs, and clean your home’s exterior the moment it needs it!
Andrea Erickson is a contributor to Innovative Building Materials. She is a blogger and content writer for the real estate industry. Andrea is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that increase property value, maximize energy savings, and turn houses into homes.
