What should I check on a yearly walkaround of my home?

If you've ever been responsible for someone in your care — a child, a parent, anyone who depends on you — you know part of the job is looking after their well-being. Their health, their nutrition, their happiness. A home is like family that way, and you're the steward. Homes have needs too, and just like people visit the doctor for an annual physical, your home needs a quick once-over.

The idea is simple: look for the things that can threaten your home's well-being. The main offenders are water, trees, a tired roof, and failing caulking — and you'll notice a theme. Water. One golden rule worth remembering: water is the enemy of a house.

Start at the ground

Leaks inside walls rarely show themselves until they're big enough to leave a stain, so the outside is the best place to start. Walk the perimeter of your home a few feet out from the foundation, and pay attention to the slope of the land. The grade should fall away from your foundation so that rain and runoff move away from the house, not toward it.

Look for places where the ground has settled into shallow depressions. Those are natural buckets just waiting to collect water, and that water has to go somewhere — the last place you want it to go is into your basement or crawlspace. A simple walkaround can help you spot areas a professional can regrade before they cause trouble.

Gutters and downspouts

If your house has gutters, make sure the downspouts are unobstructed. Leaves, twigs, and pine needles block them quickly. In cold climates where ice forms, check that your downspouts can still drain — even a trickle helps. Water from melting snow or rain that can't discharge properly will look for another way out, and that way sometimes leads up under the shingles.

Have your gutters cleaned once a year — twice if you're surrounded by trees — and you'll avoid most surprises.

Caulking around windows and doors

Look closely at the trim around your windows and doors. Obvious gaps, or old caulking that's cracked and pulled away, are quiet entry points for rainwater. Caulking typically lasts several years, but sun, cold, and movement can wear it out sooner. Re-caulking is a small, inexpensive job that pays back many times over in the water you never let in.

Trees and limbs

Water isn't the only thing in nature that can cause problems. Step back and look at the trees around your home. Any limbs growing toward the roof, walls, or windows are candidates for pruning. Storms and wind do most of the damage, and a single branch can turn tree trouble into home trouble in one night.

The roof

Your roof is one of the most important systems in your home, so know its age. Modern asphalt shingles last 20–30 years if they were properly installed. Shingles should lay flat — if you see any that are curled, cracked, or missing, replace them before water finds its way in. You don't need to climb up to check; a careful look from the ground, or a pair of binoculars, will tell you most of what you need to know.

The bottom line

The message is simple: I want your home to be healthy, so you can enjoy life in it. I want it to keep you comfortable and dry. Take twenty minutes in the spring and twenty in the fall. Walk around your home, note what you see, take pictures, and add it to your journal.

If something gives you pause, call a qualified, licensed professional. They'll inspect, report, and remedy. Log the work when it's done — we'll track it with you and help keep your home happy and healthy, year after year.