Fall clean up checklist

Huntington Neighborhood

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist C C C C

  Re-Hang Fallen Shutters  Mail Box & Post - Paint & Repair  Outdoor Lighting Tune-Up  Trim Trees along Sidewalks  Seal Driveway, (Asphalt)  Remove Hoses from Spigots

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  Garage Door Spring Maintenance  Smoke Detector - Change Batteries  Fertilize the Lawn for Fall  Window Screens - Remove & Store  Furnace Tune-up and Change Filter

Huntington Covenant Checklist item that all of us are obliged to address.

We hope you find this Home Maintenance Checklist useful...

Property maintenance is a big part of the home ownership for all of us. And since the homes in our neighborhood were built in 1996 and 1997, our homes are about 20 years old now, which means they require more maintenance and repair. This Home Maintenance Checklist was created for a few reasons: 1.) To-Do List Checklist—It provides Huntington homeowners with a handy list of things to consider completing this Fall before Winter weather sets-in. It can be used as a Checklist of items to consider addressing and a tick-sheet to check things off as they get done.

2.) Helpful Resources — In response to feedback from homeowners who are looking for support resources to help maintain their property. So for the do-it-yourselfers in the neighborhood, we’ve inserted some tips and internet links to instructional videos. And for those who are looking for some professional help we’ve included the names of companies that our neighbors have used with success. Since this Home Maintenance Checklist includes internet links, an electronic copy of this document is being sent to you via email via the email address in the neighborhood directory. As always you can update your contact information by dropping an email to anyone on the board.

3.) Request your help—It was also compiled to request that everyone in our neighborhood fix the specific items that are outlined in the HOA Covenants. Neighbors are asked to look over the exterior of their property with a critical eye and make the repairs that are due.

For most folks our home is the biggest single purchase we make in our lifetime, so we’ve all made a big investment in our Huntington homes. Any local realtor will tell you that Huntington is one of the really great subdivisions neighborhoods in Loveland. We can all take pride in our neighborhood… the location is excellent, the homes here are beautiful and a strong commitment to property maintenance & repair by all of us helps to protect that invest-

Our Neighborhood Association 

The Huntington HOA — Each of us as neighbors in our subdivision pay annual dues and are members of the Huntington Homeowners Association, (HOA). We all share the responsibility to maintain our individual properties and the common areas in order to help preserve the investment we’ve made in our homes and this terrific neighborhood.

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The Board— Each year you elect a group of 5 neighbors to represent your interests and help you protect the investment that you made in your home. This HOA board simply an administrative body that is bound to follow preestablished guidelines, (or “covenants”) that have been agreed-to by all of us when we purchased our homes. The HOA Board also performs other administrative functions as required like maintenance of common areas, etc.

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 Shabby-Shutters 

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# 1 HOA Board Complaint - Shutters that have fallen off or aren’t properly affixed to the house cause our homes and the overall neighborhood to look shabby. This is the number one complaint that the HOA Board receives, so we’re asking that everyone make an effort to keep them in good repair.

The Challenge— If the broken shutter is on the 2nd floor it can be a real problem to fix. And finding someone to do the job is difficult if you’re not a do-ityourselfer because it’s hard to find someone who will come out to fix just one shutter.

Helpful Resource—Fortunately for our subdivision, we have Michael Stease, a neighbors who has offered to help folks in the neighborhood who are struggling with this problem, (see Other Support Resources below).

How Shutters Break-Away—Shutters are fastened to the house with plastic shutter plugs. Over time, the shutter plugs may shear-off or pull away from the house - particularly on the shutters that are hit hardest by the wind.

Shutter plugs that have pulled away from the house need to be replaced with new ones that are available at the hardware store.

Here are some helpful resources to help get the job done.

Quick Links for Do-It-Yourselfers  How to remove shutter plugs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enhgupURoas  How to Install Shutter —https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enhgupURoas Other Support Resources  Neighbor Michael Stease has offered to help Huntington homeowners who need help rehanging your shutters. Michael’s mobile # (513) 315-2328.

 Outdoor Lighting Tune-Up  Shed Some Light - While Huntington does have a couple of street lights, the primary source of light

for our streets and sidewalks is shared by all of the homeowners because it comes from our residential lamp posts. Days will be getting shorter as we move later in the calendar year and with the timechange, (November 6, 2016 @ 2:00am) when it becomes noticeably darker both in the morning and the evening. With the age of our homes, it’s understandable that the original post and light fixture might needs some attention or needs to be completely replaced.  Photocell Troubleshooting— The photocell turns the light off during daylight hours and turn them

on at night. If your photocell is not operating properly then the light probably stays on throughout the day. There are two ways to fix this issue; 1.) Install an Automatic Light Controller or 2.) Replace the Photocell that is built into the lamp post.  Install an Automatic Light Controller—The easiest and safest way to fix the problem is to try a low cost solution that requires no tools or wiring. You using an automatic light controller that simply screws into the light socket. They come in different sizes and the links below include a models that is sold at any hardware store.

Quick Links  How to install a simple automatic controller —https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYJTBa6nf9I  What to look for at the hardware store —http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Automatic-Light-Control18265/203716763  Candelabra Style Light Controllers—http://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-Bronze-Dusk-To-Dawn-Candelabra-LightControl/50063803 2) Replace the Photocell or the Entire Lamp Post— This requires some electrical know-how, so proceed with caution. For those with experience in working with electricity you’ll find several on-line videos that can help you.

Quick Links  How to Paint Brass Light Fixtures — http://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-paint-outdoor-light-fixtures  How to Replace a photocell - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=post+light+sensor  How to Replace a Light Post by This Old House- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TaLVRW2N_U 2

 Trim trees along sidewalks & streets...

Arborists advise that the best time to trim trees is in the fall. Tree branches and bushes that hang over the sidewalks and streets create a hazard for those walking in the neighborhood.

While this isn’t something covered by the Huntington covenants there is a Loveland City Ordnance that requires that... branches hanging over the sidewalks must be trimmed to a height of 7’ and branches hanging over the street must be trimmed to a height of 13’. For homeowners who have branches that need to be trimmed but don’t have the tools, here are names and contact info for neighbors who have offered loan their tools, (pole saws, step ladders, etc.) to help you get the job done.

Support Resources for Tree Trimming Tools (Pole Saws, Step Ladders, etc.)  Ken Bernier - 235-4705, kenneth.bernier@gmail.com  Steve Zorko - 633-8370 jszorko@iwmcfp.net

 Seal Driveway Porous asphalt driveways are very susceptible to the freeze and thaw of water that penetrates the pores over the winter. You can extend the life of the asphalt and avoid the driveway breaking up by sealing the pores every year. And it does wonders for the curb appeal of your home. You can purchase five gallon buckets of sealer at any hardware store or have it professionally sealed. Listed below are resources that will help you tackle this job.

Quick Links for Do-It-Yourselfers  How to seal your asphalt driveway video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBdHJ7KoHV4  See Neighbor Referrals for professional services, (page 4)

 Lawn Care Tune-up Our lawns love the cooler weather that Fall weather brings... and it is the very best time to plant grass seed. So this is the time to fix those areas damaged by pets and weeds with some grass seed and starter fertilizer. Many lawn care professionals recommend Tall Fescue due to it’s resistance to drought and disease. Give your lawn a good feeding this fall before the ground freezes and you'll see great results next spring.

 Service Smoke Detectors Fall is a good time to check smoke detectors before the house is closed-up for winter.

That’s because there tend to be more opportunities for an accident during the winter months, (more visitors in the house, use of the fireplace, holiday decorations, etc.) Our own Loveland Fire Department recommends replacing smoke detector batteries every 12 months. They also recommend replacing smoke detector units every 10 years. Most smoke detectors in our neighborhood use a 9V battery that can be purchased in bulk at most retailers and hardware stores. Time Change— November 6, 2016 @ 2:00am

 Remove Garden Hoses from Spigot The faucet located on the outside of the house where the hose is fitted can easily freeze in the winter. Any water trapped in the faucet by the hose can freeze and cause the spigot to burst a pipe in the basement. It's simple to avoid this problem - just turn off the spigot and remove the hose before winter temperatures set in.

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 Garage Door Care 

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High Torsion Springs—Your garage door has a set of high torsion springs on it. It’s these springs - not the automatic garage door opener that does the heavy lifting when you press the garage door remote to raise your 150+ lb. garage door. These torsion springs also keep the door from slamming down on your toes when you lower it.

Annual Lubrication—Over time original lubricant on these springs dry-out and rust can develop between the coils. This causes the coils to loose flexibility and they no longer work as designed. If this occurs they will eventually snap and have to be replaced. You can avoid a costly garage door repair bill and a potential safety issue by simply lubricating the springs once a year. Listed below are some Quick Links to show you how to easily lubricate the spring and all of the other moving parts of your garage door.

Squeaking & Creaking—Your steel door is constantly moving up and down which causes the metal screws that hold it together to vibrate loose. Tightening the screws and replacing any that have fallen out will help to significantly reduce the noise and help the maintain the structural integrity of the door and extend it’s life. Watch the attached videos to learn how to safely cinch-up the screws of your garage door.

Quick Links & Resources  Garage Door Maintenance Video —https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeoCzLHUXCo  Where to find Garage Door Lubricant— All of the major hardware stores carry garage door lubricant.  Professional Service — Reputable companies can be found on Angie’s List or Home Advisor

 Mail Box & Post - Paint & Repair 

After 20 years a mailbox can look pretty tired - pealing paint, rust and even wooden posts that are leaning. Outlined below are some links to help you get it back in top condition.

For those planning to replace the mailbox post please make sure that your new post matches the standard style that everyone is asked to install, (see the example in Quick Links)

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Quick Links & Resources  How to Restore a Mailbox - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VfgwvgU9v8  How to Replace a Mail Box Post —https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX-6kR6Rcao  Huntington Mailbox Post Style - http://www.lowes.com/pd/Top-Choice-Treated-Wood-Mailbox-Post/50279761

Other Helpful Resources  Neighbor Referrals—Outlined below is a list of home maintenance and repair vendors who other neighbors have used with success. If you’re looking for a vendor, this list may serve as a starting point in your search for a provider.  Share your Preferred Vendor Experience— If you’ve had a good experience with home repair or maintenance vendors, (only) email your referral to Ken Bernier— kenneth.bernier@gmail.com and we’ll add them to the list.

Category

Vendor / Phone

Referring Neighbor / Phone

Home Handy-Man

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Debbie Walker, (123-4567)

House Painting

Don Rohlfs Painting, 683-0039

Ken Bernier, (235-4705)

Lawn—Mowing

Jayson Vogt

Ken Bernier, (235-4705)

Lawn—Mulch, Fertilizer, Planting, Tree Trimming

Oasis Turf & Tree, 697-9090 Dan’s Lawn Care,

Asphalt Driveway Sealing

Marcum’s Seal Coating, 804-6301

Hardwood Floors

Ken Bernier, 235-4705

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