There are almost 2 million houses in Arizona.
If you want your house to stand out from the rest on the housing market, you have to put your best face forward. Even a small issue with your house’s maintenance could cause potential buyers to doubt the rest of your property.
Luckily, for you, we’ve created a short guide highlighting the top home maintenance tips to help you sell your Arizona home. We’ll explain the seasonal tasks you should be doing as well as sharing some weekly maintenance tips.
By learning how to wow buyers, you’ll be closing on your home in no time! Keep reading to learn more.
1. Hot Weather Maintenance Tips for Houses in Arizona
Houses in Arizona experience extremely high temperatures during spring and summertime. The hot dry summers can easily reach temperatures of 120°F, and sometimes they go even higher.
During these dry and hot seasons, your grass and the plants in your yard need to get enough water. Take a moment to inspect your sprinkler system to make sure it’s working properly.
You may also need to adjust the timing so that your yard is getting adequate water every week. Next, examine your roof for any broken or missing shingles. Holes in your roof can cause roof leak mold, while also increasing your energy costs.
2. Cold Weather Maintenance Tips
Houses in Arizona can finally get a break from the extreme heat when fall comes around. Research shows fall temperatures tend to be a comfortable 50-60°F during the daytime.
Even when the winter comes, the temperatures will rest around a comfortable 70°F during the day. However, you have to be careful of the effects of sudden freezing temperatures at nighttime can have on your home.
First, you’ll want to get any hoses you have prepared for the cold. You can do this by draining any excess water from the hoses and irrigation system. Next, place covers on any exposed faucets.
Moving on, it’s also a good idea to check for critters. As the weather turns colder, small animals may try to find refuge in the warmth of your home. Check for the presence of any critters, and take steps to prevent them from being able to enter your home.
Keeping your garage door shut when you don’t need it open is a great place to start. Along with rodents, you also have to prepare for insects that want to spend the winter safely in your home.
If you notice any termites or roaches, call a professional to help get rid of the pests for good. Trying to remedy a bug infestation yourself can be difficult once the insects are already present. By calling a professional, you’ll be able to rest assured that bugs aren’t going to jeopardize your ability to sell your home.
Finally, if you have a fireplace, get it ready for the chilly winter nights. If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your chimney, hire a sweep and get it inspected.
3. Service Your Air Conditioning
Since houses in Arizona experience extreme temperatures, having your HVAC system running properly is crucial. At the beginning of springtime, call a technician to service your airconditioning. The technician can clean the airconditioning or heat pump using an evaporative cooler.
Next, the technician can inspect the unit to see if it’s functioning properly. The last thing you want is to make buyers tour a hot house because your air conditioner is on the fritz.
4. Pump Your Septic Tank
If you have a septic tank, get it pumped towards the end of summer or the beginning of fall. Your septic tank needs time to reestablish the bacteria that break down the waste.
By pumping your septic tank at the end of the summer, you’ll be giving it plenty of time to build up bacteria before the winter months. While you’re getting your septic tank pumped, go ahead and request an inspection too. Annually inspecting your septic tank is a great way to catch small problems and fix them before they get bigger.
5. Power Wash the Exterior of Your Home
Powerwashing your home is an effective way to rid your home’s exterior of unsightly dirt and mildew. Whether your home is stucco, brick, wood, or steel, you’ll love the results you get from a thorough power washing session.
If you don’t want to hire a professional, it’s fairly easy to learn how to do the power washing yourself. Be careful, however, because power washers can be dangerous if not used properly.
For instance, you should never be on a ladder when you’re using a powerwasher. You could easily make the ladder fall over from the pressure of the water. Instead, stand on the ground as you spray off the sides of the house.
Next, start power washing your driveway and front walkway. Finally, complete your home beautification project by power washing the sidewalk in front of your house.
6. Vacuum All Carpeting
It may seem obvious but maintaining floor cleanliness is something a lot of homeowners overlook when they’re selling a property. An unclean carpet can cause an entire world of problems during the selling process.
The first problem you’ll have to deal with is the possibility of bugs. Not necessarily bugs living in the carpet but bugs getting caught in the carpet fibers.
If your house is sitting vacant and you don’t vacuum it, you may return to find that your carpet’s become a cemetery for flies and other small bugs. After vacuuming the carpet, take a look around to see if any gaps around windows or doors are making it easy for bugs to get in.
If you find any rips or gaps, patch them up immediately. Even a small rip by a window could lead to major insect infestations down the road.
7. Clean Your Fridge
When you’re cleaning the refrigerator and freezer, take everything out of first. After thoroughly wiping out the inside, wash each removable part of the appliance in your sink.
Be sure to include the ice maker in your cleaning process. Next, check the fridge and freezer for any leaks. If you find a leak, fix it and add in more coolant if needed. If there are any odors in your fridge, you can use baking soda to absorb them.
8. Scrub Your Stove
You’ll need to gather a few cleaning supplies to make your stove sparkle! First, you’ll want to grab dishwashing detergent, baking soda, vinegar, and a rag. You’ll also need a scrub brush for cleaning extra tough spots.
Soak all of the burners in soapy water to get the top layer of grime off. Next, use the baking soda mixed with a little water to create a thick paste.
Cover each stove burner with the baking soda paste and leave it be for about 20 minutes. Finally, take your scrub brush or rag and scrub each burner until it’s free of all food residue.
After rinsing the burners off, you’re ready to put them back on the stove. However, you’re still not done!
Look at the top vent of your stove. It’s designed to capture grease, and it’s likely covered in grease right now. Soak your rag in soapy water and begin wiping down the top vent. You may also need to use your scrub brush to get the vent completely clean.
9. Repair Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers
Moving on, your kitchen cabinets should all look good and work well. Any water damage or rot on the cabinets or draws will send potential buyers running from your house.
Instead, keep buyers interested by presenting cabinets and drawers that open and close as they should. If the draws are difficult to open, you may need to unclog the drawer tracks.
Should you still notice any issue with the drawers after unclogging the tracks, go ahead and replace the drawer tracks completely. Looking at the cabinets, check the hinges to see if they’re worn out. Replace any hinges that look old and worn out, even if they’re still functioning right now.
Next, look at the handles on each cabinet door and drawer. Are any of the handles broken or unsightly?
If you’re going to replace one handle, go ahead and replace all of the handles. This way you’ll have a nice uniformed look throughout your kitchen.
Finally, if your cabinets have paint on them, check to see if the paint is chipping. When the paint is peeling or chipping it’s time for a fresh coat of paint. First, sand down the cabinets completely, and then put on a fresh coat of paint.
If during the cabinet maintenance process you come across a cabinet beyond repair, replace it completely. To replace a cabinet, you may need to hire a contractor, unless you have cabinet replacing experience.
10. Remodeling Your Bathroom
Once you’re done fixing up your kitchen, you can move on to the bathrooms. Here’s a short maintenance checklist for your bathroom:
• Seal grout
• Check for leaks
• Identify rot
• Loose tiles
• Inspect beneath the sink
• Cleanliness
Is your shower old and ugly to look at? Go ahead and start by getting an entire shower remodel. If your shower is already fairly new then you might just need to fix the grout.
It’s common for grout to wear over time and have cracks in it. If you find any cracks, you’ll want to clean the area, dry it, and put on a fresh layer of grout.
Next, check the existing grout for any signs of mildew or mold. If you find any moldy grout, clean it using bleach and let the area air dry.
After fixing the grout, check all of the bathroom pipes and spouts for leaks. You should also check around the toilet and bathtub to see if any water is leaking out. Whenever you find a leak you can’t fix, don’t hesitate to call a plumber.
Allowing the leak to persist could end up costing you more money later on. Moisture can build up under the floor or behind the walls, and smelly mold can start growing.
It’ll be tough getting someone to buy your house if your bathroom has a musky moldy smell. Luckily, by identifying leaks and existing decay, you can start taking actions today to get your bathroom back in tip-top shape.
11. Improve Your Curb Appeal
Do you have outstanding curb appeal? If not, your house might be on the market a lot longer than you want it to be. The outside of your home is what gives potential buyer’s the first impression of your home.
If the front yard is unkempt, or there’s clutter on your porch, buyers won’t be lining up to see the inside of your home. Luckily, improving your curb appeal is easy and it’ll fit within your home maintenance budget.
For starters, walk around the perimeter of your house. Put yourself in the mindset of a buyer, what type of things will they notice when they walk around your home?
Small things you’ve learned to ignore, like chipping paint, are the first thing potential buyers will notice. Putting a fresh coat of paint on your house is an affordable maintenance task that will yield large returns. To get the best results, try using a contrasting paint color for your house’s doors, shutters, and trim.
Next, remove any fallen tree branches that are in your yard. You should also trim any bushes you have.
Do you have an area for flowers in your front yard? If yes, now would be a great time to put down a fresh layer of mulch. Next, use a flower box to display other types of plants on your front porch.
Thrive in the Local Housing Market
Now you know the ins and outs for maintaining houses in Arizona. By keeping your home looking stellar, you’re sure to do well in the local housing market. For more ways to do your best, check out the rest of this site!
