Simple Tips to Get Your Home Summer-Ready

Now that summer is here, it’s the perfect time of year to freshen up your home inside and out! Here are some helpful tips from Hopewell on how to keep your home in tip-top shape over the summer months.

• Please put your downspout down! Downspouts are designed to move water away from your foundation. If they're left up during rain, water may pool at your foundation and cause settling. We recommend leaving your downspouts down before and after rain, and putting them up during winter to reduce the risk of damage due to freezing and thawing.
• Call before you dig! Before digging anything—from a new flowerbed to a deck pile—make sure you know the locations of all underground services. Within Alberta, utility services can be located free of charge with the “Call Before You Dig” service. Schedule an appointment online or call 1 800 242 3447.
• Have you recently planted sod for your new home? Keep it green by ensuring the grass is moist for the next few days and in the second week, reduce watering to every other day. Once the grass has “taken,” a weekly watering is usually adequate. Water evenly and slowly so the water penetrates the soil without running off. The same applies to trees or shrubs.
• Don't forget to maintain your home inside, as well! We recommend an annual change of your smoke detector batteries. Though they are hard-wired into your home, a fresh battery will ensure they continue working in the event of a power outage. We also recommend changing your furnace filter twice a year, in spring and fall, to keep your indoor air fresh.

Interested in learning more? Check out the Alberta New Home Warranty’s Care and Maintenance Guide for great tips on caring for your new home: Guide to the Care & Maintenance of Your New Home