Is your home ready for spring? This is the perfect time to give your home a good “once-over”. Taking care of minor repairs and clean-up from the winter months will help prepare your home for the long summer ahead. Regular home maintenance can make a big difference to the appearance of your home, and help prevent major expenses in the future.
In many regions, spring is the perfect season to tackle important home improvement projects because temperatures are generally more moderate. Before you start your seasonal home improvement tasks, examine both the interior and exterior of your home. Most of these home maintenance items can be accomplished without the help of a professional, but it’s always best to be safe and call for assistance if a home improvement project is beyond your abilities. Below are a few maintenance projects to consider this spring:
Spring Maintenance Checklist:
- Inspect roofing for missing, loose, or damaged shingles and leaks.
- Change the air-conditioning filter.
- Clean window and door screens.
- Polish wood furniture and dust light fixtures.
- Refinish the deck.
- Power-wash windows and siding.
- Remove leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts.
- Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Have a professional inspect and pump the septic tank.
- Inspect sink, shower, and bath caulking for deterioration.
- Vacuum lint from dryer vent.
If you’re looking for a way to fund your home repair and improvement projects, a reverse mortgage may be able to help. A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), commonly known as a reverse mortgage, is a Federal Housing Administration insured loan (FHA). A reverse mortgage enables seniors 62 or older to access a portion of their home’s equity to obtain tax free1 funds without having to make monthly mortgage payments.2 You can receive your loan proceeds as a lump sum, monthly payments, line of credit, or a combination of monthly installments and a line of credit to use when needed. The loan typically becomes due when the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or permanently moves out.
If you’d like to learn more about how a reverse mortgage could help you, please use our Reverse Mortgage Calculator or call us at 800.218.1415.
1 Consult your financial advisor and appropriate government agencies for any effect on taxes or government benefits.
2 You must live in the home as your primary residence, continue to pay required property taxes, homeowners insurance and maintain the home according to Federal Housing Administration requirements.