SOMA Living January 2022

REAL ESTATE

THE HONEY-DO LIST

Welcome to 2022! While you’re solidifying those resolutions, think about making a commitment to keeping on top of some easy home maintenance items. Paying attention to smaller problems can save you major headaches and expense later, which will keep the value of your home up. New and experienced homeowners alike - dust off those notebooks and pick a few tasks to cover each season! Gutters and downspouts that aren’t properly connected and stuffed with leaves can lead to costly leaks or water in your basement. Be careful on that ladder if you’re doing the cleaning yourself and check out some online DIY videos. Or, if dangling from the roof isn’t really your thing, there are several companies in town who will perform this service at a very reasonable price. (Reach out for recs!) Did you know there’s a difference between a boiler and furnace? While many people use these terms interchangeably, they are very different systems - the former using water & steam through radiators & baseboard and the latter forcing hot air through ductwork - both requiring regular maintenance. If your boiler produces steam heat, you’ll want to regularly clean out the sediment that accumulates in the system. This is a simple process where you’ll put a bucket under the drain valve and run the water out until it becomes clear. Be sure your heat is down and the system is cooled before you add water back in. If you perform this operation regularly, it will keep your system running more efficiently and save you from having to say RIP to your (expensive) boiler prematurely. For those of you with forced hot air (which is often the same system you use for central air), you can prolong the system life and improve your air quality by changing the filters and cleaning the air vents every few months. Of course there are plenty of great plumbing and HVAC pros who will come service your systems annually, so whether you’re a home hack hero or you’d rather go pro, it is important to keep it on your list. Make sure you have those smoke detectors & carbon monoxide detectors installed and ready! Starting in 2019, New Jersey homes are supposed to have 10-year sealed battery detectors. If you haven’t invested in the upgrade, I would definitely recommend it! When people purchase a home, they almost immediately remove that unsightly fire extinguisher that was required by the town to be mounted in the kitchen. Like I did! And then I couldn’t find it when I set a tray of French fries on fire….. Locate that sucker and check to make sure it isn’t expired! For a more complete list of regular maintenance items to help keep your home happy, reach out! We’d be happy to give you more tips on how to protect that awesome investment of yours. GUT YOUR GUTTERS BE HOT & COLD SAFETY FIRST!

email us at AtlanticConcepts@hotmail.com to schedule a free estimate www.atlantic-concepts.com (386) 344-3894 Atlantic Concepts is a family owned business that has been serving the SOMA community for over 10 years. Its founder, Eddie Cevallos and family are proud residents of Maplewood. Specializing in kitchens, bathrooms, additions, etc, Atlantic Concepts would love to hear your ideas for your projects. Please give us a call for a free estimate.

www.thecarpetgirl.com SELECTION, SALES AND INSTALLATION

Kate Elliott is the leader of The Kate Elliott Team at Coldwell Banker 646-662-6655 Kate.elliott@cbmoves.com Insta: @KeyToNewJersey

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