Your Villa Magazine - Desert Cities - August-September - 2023

BrandPointContent.com edited by YourVilla Sta For more information, visit www.mercuryinsurance.com Taking care of home is more than surface deep Real estate industry sources report that home purchases are rising once again, despite record high prices and interest rates, and many of these new homeowners might be strapped for cash should an unforeseen issue occur. As a homeowner, you need to make time for routine maintenance to keep your home in good condition. Regular maintenance can help reduce the possibility of costly and time- consuming repairs. Four areas homeowners should check regularly to keep it safe include: TLC for the airways. Heating, ventilating and air conditioning is the system that keeps the temperature inside a home comfortable. In order to not only keep running costs low but also extend the life of it, owners need to give it love and attention. A small leak or failure to replace an air filter could cause your annual energy bill to skyrocket. A dirty air filter is the most common cause of problems for an HVAC system. Regularly checking, cleaning and replacing your filters can help prevent this problem. Look up at what protects you. The first step of roof inspection begins inside the home. Look for damp spots or water stains on the ceiling or for cracked plaster along the wall as these can be signs of water damage. During dry, warm months, conduct a visual examination of your roof’s exterior for any cracked or missing shingles. Notice if you have to trim back tree branches that make contact with the roof as they can cause damage. If you suspect it needs attention, contact an experienced roofer who can perform a thorough inspection with drones and provide a condition report. Remember, roof repairs required because of damage caused by severe weather are covered by your insurance. Roof repairs that are necessary due to lack of maintenance, age, or standard wear and tear are not. Clean the gutters. Gutters are necessary to direct water away from your home’s foundation. Their exposure to the elements means that they need to be cleaned and inspected regularly. While cleaning out dirt and leaves, make sure the gutters are securely attached to your house. The weight of heavy snowfall, rain and dirt can cause gutters to loosen and pull away from the home. Preparing for extreme weather. What might’ve been considered once-in-a-lifetime extreme weather events in the past are now becoming more frequent. Natural weather events such as flooding cause billions of dollars in property damage every year. Homeowners must be aware of all perils that can impact their homes as well as the type of coverage needed. Damages caused by an earthquake or storm flooding, for example, are not covered by a standard homeowners policy. Homeowners may want to consider purchasing policies or endorsements specifically designed to cover such perils. D E S I G N + B U I L D 52 | Your Villa Magazine