Real Estate

Easy Fall Maintenance Checklist Is your home ready for a season change?

Central Oregonians love this time of year. The temps have cooled but are still comfortable for outdoor activities, with less-crowded trails and waterways. In between all of those rounds of golf, bike rides and hikes, taking care of fall home maintenance items will allow homeowners to enjoy fewer troubles in the winter months, while lowering utility costs and possibly avoiding expensive repair bills.

Protect Landscape Irrigation

Leaves turning colors and falling off trees are indications that it’s time to have your irrigation system winterized. Sprinklers are not buried far enough to avoid freezing in the winter, and if they freeze while full of water, they break. Water must be forced out with air pressure. It’s highly recommended to hire a professional landscaping company to perform this task, but schedule a spot now, as they get very busy this time of year. Don’t forget to drain, disconnect and store garden hoses as well.

Service the Furnace

Fall, especially after the smoke-filled skies recently, is a good time to have an HVAC company inspect, clean and change air filters. This keeps energy costs down while extending the life of the system and helps to improve indoor air quality.

Seal the Cracks

Air leaks near doors, windows and other openings account for a high percentage of heating costs due to a loss of warm air. Seal these areas with weather stripping or caulk, which will leave the home feeling more comfortable and reduce heating costs.

Clean Gutters

Gutters can become filled with dirt, leaves and other debris, limiting water flow. Standing water is an indication that gutters may not be sloped properly. A pro can help ensure the gutters are sloped properly and are clear to keep water running off of the roof and away from the home.

Ice Dam Prevention

For those new to colder climates, here’s a quick explanation of ice dams and how to deal with them. Ice dams form on snow-covered roofs during freezing and thawing cycles. Warm air escaping from inside the home moves through the attic, heats the roof and melts the snow from below. This melted snow, or now water, flows down the roof under the snow pack, until it reaches the eaves that are freezing in temperature and causes the water to freeze. This creates a literal dam of ice which allows water behind it to pool up over the heated attic space. Standing water on top of the roof finds its way into the home, damaging walls, ceilings and insulation, and can cause many thousands of dollars in repairs. A professional can help add insulation, seal warm air leaks and create proper ventilation in your home—all maintenance items that can prevent ice dams. Regularly removing all of the snow from the roof will also prevent the ice dams, as well.

HOME PRICE ROUNDUP Photos and listing info from Central Oregon Multiple Listing Service

<< LOW 61828-Lot# 16 SE Finn Place, OR 97702 5 beds, 3 bath, 2,219 square feet, .13 acres lot Built in 2020 $444,995 Listed by D.R. Horton, Inc. - Portland.

MID >> 1194 Highland View Loop, Redmond, OR 97756 3 beds, 2.5 bath, 2,373 square feet, .39 acres lot Built in 2017 $704,900 Listed by Fred Real Estate Group.

<< HIGH 1404 NW 1st Street, Bend, OR 97703 3 beds, 3 baths, 2,692 square feet, .28 acres lot Built in 1916 $1,100,000 Listed by The Real Estate Gallery USA

MARY GEMBA

ABR 541-771-8947

STILL SHOPPING? There’s more coming to market $350,000 - $630,000 Deschutes Realty 541-330-1700 750 NW Lava Road, #507, Bend Bend’s Best Buy Blog BENDPROPERTIES.LIVE

VOTED Bend’s NEXTDOOR Favorite Realtor 2018

Get noticed in our Real Estate section

contact advertise@bendsource.com

Thinking about buying a new home or refinancing? If so, let’s chat.

Tracia Larimer

MORTGAGE BROKER

NMLS#1507306

Azara Mortgage, LLC NMLS#1577943 (541) 241-8344

Marcia Hilber t/c- 541-312-3641

Principal Broker

marciahilber2@gmail.com | marciahilber.com Serving Happy Buyers & Sellers Throughout All of Central Oregon Since 2006

219 NW 6TH ST., STE 1, REDMOND Licensed in the Sate of Oregon Lic #200608229

Have a burrowing rodent problem? Who you gonna call?

Residental • Commercial • Farm & Public Lands

Office 541-205-5764 cell 541-331-2404 gopherbusters@live.com Moles, Voles, Gophers and Squirrels

TRAPPING • GASSING • RESULTS