[dropcap]D[/dropcap]ear Terese,
I’m going to be listing my home over the holidays. A friend has told me to spruce up the exterior of my home, specifically my siding. Besides painting, what exterior treatments do you recommend?
Mae
Dear Mae,
There are several items you can address on the exterior of your home to improve the appearance and protect your investment. Besides painting, if you have rock, stone, or brick, a good washing of dirt & bugs with a good scrub will help. Be careful if you use power washing, it can strip off paint and seep thru old windows. If you have siding, not brick or stone, you’ll want to be extra cautious and take good care of the exterior of the home. Keep foliage away from the home and make sure no plants are growing on any siding. Plants can trap moisture and allow insects and animals to infiltrate. Check areas around windows and doors to see if water is getting in. Moisture can linger and eventually cause rotting or fungal growth. Make sure those areas have been properly caulked or tuck pointed to prevent seepage. Keep the gutters clean. Don’t wait for the fall to clean your gutters, check several times year round. If water gets back up, it could damage siding.
Dear Terese,
A friend told me my parent’s old home is a candidate for a “tear down”. Why would anyone want to tear down a lovely old home?
Dave
