The Beginner’s Guide to Home Maintenance

Maintenance — we’ve all heard that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In the case of home maintenance it can also mean fewer headaches and a lot of money saved. So, when talking about maintaining a new (or new to you) home, what all is really involved? In this blog we’ll delve into the topic of home maintenance tips, and suggest some helpful ways to keep your home in shape for the long run.

Monthly

Keeping up with monthly maintenance around the home is one of the best (and easiest) ways to maintain your home.
●Change HVAC filter
●Check unders sinks and around water fixtures for any leaks
●Clean dryer filters regularly according to the manufacturer’s directions
●Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
●Inspect fire extinguishers

Annual

Just like renewing your car’s registration, some home maintenance items are best done on a yearly basis.
●Have HVAC serviced
●Clean the gutters and examine downspouts
●Test your water heater pressure relief valve
●Vacuum your refrigerator coils
●Clean window wells
●Clean fireplace chimneys (depending on usage)
●Check grout and caulk in bathrooms for needed repair
●Replace batteries for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every 6 months or when they start beeping

Long Term

Long term items are the ones you need to budget for. Planning ahead and being prepared is key for these maintenance items. Addressing them before they become real issues is always the safest bet.
●Replacing or re-shingling the roof
●Hot water heater replacement
●Replacing a furnace or AC unit
●Replacing windows or doors

This Might Sound Like a Lot…
…and it is! Maintaining a home is a big responsibility, and organization is one of the keys to success. That’s why we take pride in creating comprehensive and thorough reports for our clients.
A quality home inspection report can help you keep track of maintenance items—it’s as simple as reviewing the report and setting calendar reminders. By working along with your inspector, you can even create a prioritized list of recommended repairs and maintenance. This is a boon to homeowners during the sales negotiation and throughout ownership.

Looking to learn more about home buying, selling and inspections? Check out our company blog!

By Chris Earley

You May Also Like

Outdoor Summer Home Maintenance

Outdoor Summer Home Maintenance

The warm summer months are upon us and it’s time to get your home summer ready! Here’s a list of outdoor projects you can get a jump start on before it gets too hot. Power Washing Power wash your driveway & sidewalks. You can rent a power washer or hire a power...

read more
Liberty and Spectora: A More User-Friendly Report

Liberty and Spectora: A More User-Friendly Report

We are excited to announce that effective Monday, January 23, 2023 we will be using Spectora's software for our scheduling and inspection reporting software. Spectora's reports are user-friendly and intuitive. With a "clickable" menu that helps you easily navigate the...

read more
Inspection Tips for Homebuyers

Inspection Tips for Homebuyers

We often get asked by homebuyers if there is anything they need to do before their home inspection. This is most common for first time buyers who haven’t had a home inspection before. With that in mind, we have a few tips, suggestions, and pointers to help buyers get...

read more

Darryl Hartshorne

Darryl is a Certified Professional Inspector through the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). He is a graduate of the National Institute of Home Inspection, and holds a certification in exterior stucco design through the Exterior Design Institute.

He has a professional background in residential and commercial framing and finishing, and is an avid DIYer, having gutted and renovated his beloved S.Philly row home from bottom to top himself, which he continues to tinker and improve upon.

Darryl’s other passion is as a highly trained and sought after classically trained bassoonist and contrabassoonist. He is a member of the Philadelphia Ballet Orchestra and the Harrisburg Symphony, and appears frequently as a substitute musician with the Philadelphia Orchestra and many other groups throughout the Tri-State area.

He is also a lover of all animals, and enjoys the outdoors, reading, cooking and board games.

Jon Knell

Jon joined Liberty in February 2021 after 25 years in the culinary/ Hospitality field. He is working as a radon technician with the goal of completing his training to become a Building Consultant. Jon served as the banquet chef at Manufacturer’s country club and worked 11 years for the PGA and NASCAR as one of their chefs.

Jon has been a long-time eagles season ticket holder and enjoys playing golf and cooking. Jon resides in Glenside, Montgomery County with his wife and 3 kids.

Zachary Meinhold

Zachary is a Certified Property Inspector through InterNACHI. He enjoys fishing, the outdoors, and working on vehicles. He has a background in marketing along with video and picture editing and production.

In addition, he has a strong customer service background and strives to give the best service possible to his clients.

Along with performing property inspections, Zach is currently working towards earning a degree in Business at Penn State.

Adrian Mall

Adrian is a certified home inspector through the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). He has studied architecture at the University of Michigan after earning a BA at the College of William and Mary.

Adrian worked in home renovations and interiors for over a decade before making the change to use his combined knowledge of trades to inspect homes. He currently lives in Delaware County, where he enjoys bird watching, home renovations, and spending time with family.

Jeremy Fleming

Jeremy joined Liberty Inspection Group in 2018. He was certified as a National Home Inspector in 2016 through American Home Inspector Training Institute (AHIT). He is currently a member of InterNACHI, as a Certified Property Inspector (CPI).

Prior to joining Liberty, Jeremy served as a roofing mechanic, kitchen installer, home remodeler, window installer, and customer relations representative. He also spent several years in the sports and leisure industry, where he served as an assistant golf pro.

After 15 years in various independent contracting roles, he was drawn to the world of home inspection because he is a careful observer of details with a dedication to doing everything with meticulous accuracy. He is committed to making sure everyone feels comfortable and confident with the home buying process, so he takes pride in meeting the individual needs of each customer.

Jeremy is a lifelong Philly sports fan who loves sports, music, movies, and social gatherings. He resides in Montgomeryville, PA, with his wife and daughter.

Chris is the Founder and CEO of Liberty Inspection Group. He has loved construction and buildings his entire life and joined the construction industry in 1997.

Using the experience he gained while being a project engineer and a construction manager for several large commercial and residential building companies, he founded Liberty Inspection Group in 2007 in the midst of the recession.

Liberty has grown to become the largest, fastest-growing, most reviewed, and highest-rated inspection company in the Greater Philadelphia area. Our clients include top real estate agents and agent teams from Keller Williams, Compass, Berkshire Hathaway, Weichert, EXP Realty, RE/MAX, Coldwell Banker, and Long & Foster.