MMA Blog

5 Spring Cleaning Jobs to Increase Your Home's Value

Whether your tulips are blooming already or you're still expecting a few snow showers, the time for spring cleaning is here for everyone. Dust off that layer of winter grime, shake out your rugs and add in a few cleaning projects that will also increase your home's value and curb appeal.

 

1. Get Your Chimney Swept Professionally

When it comes to cleaning out the remains of a winter's worth of fires, you should leave the job to a professional chimney sweep. These trained folks can safely get up on your roof and inspect the condition of your chimney — inside and out. Plus, they'll use special tools to remove soot and creosote (that's a buildup from burning hardwood). Why worry about the buildup? Well, creosote can present a safety hazard if left to build up too much in a chimney or flue. It can catch fire itself, or can block your chimney and allow dangerous carbon monoxide to leak back into your home. It only takes 1/8th of an inch of buildup for chimney cleaning to be necessary. Professional, certified chimney sweeps can remove all of this safely and carefully, leaving you with a fireplace or wood stove that's ready for next winter's cozy evenings. Find a chimney sweep in your area through the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

 

2. Inspect Roof Shingles and Gutters for Winter Damage

Come spring, you hopefully can get outside and take a look at what winter snow storms, wind damage and ice buildup has done to your drainage systems or roof. Walk around the outside of your home and look for damage like bent or broken downspouts, gutters or missing or damaged shingles. If you want to play it safe, hire a professional roofer to take a look at your home's shingles, chimney flashing and to inspect for damage from weather or even animals like woodpeckers or squirrels. You want to make sure you're protecting your home from leaks before those spring showers (or summer hail storms) arrive.

 

3. Clean Windows and Look for Cracks/Leaks

Get that bright spring sunshine streaming in your home! Wash your windows from top to bottom, and take a look to see if any have cracked or lost their weather stripping or glazing over the winter. You can also look for signs that bugs like termites, spiders or ants are making their way inside your home to do some damage behind the walls. Seal up any holes you find, or apply weather stripping to keep your home central air and heat working as efficiently as possible. If you encounter signs of termites or other potentially large bug infestations, contact a pest control specialist earlier rather than later!

 

4. Get the Dust Out of There

From cleaning curtains to vacuuming behind the couch, you want all that winter dust and hair out of your home in the spring. You also should look at springtime as the perfect opportunity to get your home's air ducts cleaned. Professional cleaners can remove built up dust, dirt and more from your interior air ducts and dryer vents. This provides you with less allergens in the house, and provides a clean path for that cool air from your A/C unit come summertime. If you're looking to sell your home this summer, a home inspector might peek in those ducts and be able to tell how well you've been caring for the inside of your home's HVAC systems.

 

5. Think About Painting & Landscaping Early

If your summer is going to be spent on big lawn projects or repainting the exterior of your home, springtime is a great time to get started. Don't wait to book a painter until the middle of summer when they don't have any time left to take on another job. If you're doing it yourself, planning and painting while the weather is still cool (not summer hot and sticky) can be much more comfortable. And when it comes to landscaping, planning in the spring gives you the chance to get first pick of plants at local garden centers, or put in orders with local companies to buy the right size trees, shrubs or plants for your space. Plus, the earlier you plant, the longer you get to enjoy your new landscaping this summer.

Keep Up To Date

Subscribe to our blog for all the latest news, updates, and events from MMA and our partners

Subscribe

Tell us what you need. We’ll take it from there.

Get a Quote


    YesNo











        First, tell us about you:






        EmailPhone


        Next, tell us about your business:





        Now tell us about the coverage or coverages you need:


        Commercial InsuranceEmployee BenefitsHealth InsuranceSuretyOther



        NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

        You are ready to submit the form:

          First, tell us about you:






          EmailPhone





          Next, tell us about the coverage or coverages you need:


          AutoHomeIndividual HealthUmbrellaRecreationalWatercraftRenter’s InsuranceLife InsuranceWedding Insurance



          NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

          Now you are ready to submit the form:

            First, tell us about you:






            EmailPhone





            Next, tell us about the coverage or coverages you need:


            AutoHomeIndividual HealthUmbrellaRecreationalWatercraftRenter’s InsuranceLife InsuranceWedding Insurance



            NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

            Now you are ready to submit the form:

              First, tell us about you:






              EmailPhone


              Next, tell us about your business:





              Now tell us about the coverage or coverages you need:


              Commercial InsuranceEmployee BenefitsHealth InsuranceSuretyOther



              NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

              You are ready to submit the form:

                First, tell us about you:






                EmailPhone






                Next, tell us about the coverage or coverages you need:


                AutoHomeIndividual HealthUmbrellaRecreationalWatercraftRenter’s InsuranceLife InsuranceWedding Insurance


                Commercial InsuranceEmployee BenefitsEmployee Health InsuranceSurety



                NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

                Now you are ready to submit the form:




                    First, tell us about you:






                    EmailPhone





                    Step 1 of 2Next

                    Next, tell us about the coverage or coverages you need:


                    AutoHomeIndividual HealthUmbrellaRecreational

                     

                    WatercraftRenter’s InsuranceLife InsuranceWedding Insurance



                    NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

                    Now you are ready to submit the form:

                      First, tell us about you:






                      EmailPhone


                      Step 1 of 3Next

                      Next, tell us about your business:





                      Step 2 of 3Next

                      Now tell us about the coverage or coverages you need:


                      Commercial InsuranceEmployee BenefitsHealth InsuranceSuretyOther



                      NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

                      You are ready to submit the form:

                        First, tell us about you:






                        EmailPhone





                        Step 1 of 2Next



                        NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

                        Now you are ready to submit the form:

                          Review Form

                            First, tell us about you:






                            EmailPhone







                            NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

                            Now you are ready to submit the form:

                              First, tell us about you:






                              EmailPhone





                              Next, tell us about your claim:






                              NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

                              Now you are ready to submit the form:

                                First, tell us about you and your business:







                                EmailPhone


                                Next, tell us about the surety bond you need:







                                NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

                                Now you are ready to submit the form:

                                  First, tell us about you:






                                  EmailPhone


                                  Next, tell us about your business:





                                  Now tell us about the coverage or coverages you need:


                                  Commercial InsuranceEmployee BenefitsHealth InsuranceSuretyOther



                                  NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

                                  You are ready to submit the form:

                                    First, tell us about you:






                                    EmailPhone





                                    Next, tell us about the coverage or coverages you need:


                                    AutoHomeIndividual HealthUmbrellaRecreationalWatercraftRenter’s InsuranceLife InsuranceWedding Insurance



                                    NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

                                    Now you are ready to submit the form:

                                      First, tell us about you:






                                      EmailPhone






                                      Do you have insurance with us already?



                                      Tell us what you need:




                                      NOTE: Before becoming effective, all changes, bind orders, or claim notifications must be confirmed by a MMA Insurance representative advising that your request has been processed.

                                      Now you are ready to submit the form:

                                      cross linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram