I got a quick update when I sold a Lennar-built home to a first-time homebuyer in 2005. At our request, Lennar sent a couple employees to teach this buyer how to maintain the home and I got to listen. Here’s what they said.

Wind-driven rain creates problems. You need to seal outside cracks in stucco with a good-quality sealant each spring. Watch for those cracks under windowsills and roof joints. Water intrusion will cut the life of your stucco. Same goes with window caulking. If it is brittle, dry or broken, water is going to get in and ruin structure or cause mold. Seal up your house in Spring!

Seal your driveway cracks, too, as moisture just makes the cracks bigger. Seal up any cracks in the garage floor, too, because you’ll drive your drippy car in there and the water will pool, seep and make the cracks bigger. It’s smart to keep a big squeegee in the garage for downpours.

Look for damaged or missing shingles and get them fixed. Cooler but dryer temps in the Florida winter can cause buckling and cracking. Make sure joints and run-off areas are clear. Check your guttering, not just to make sure it is clear of debris, but that it is tightly connected to the house.

Water that seeps between the gutter and the roof can rot the wood structures. It can also allow water to miss the gutter entirely and fall close to the house, eventually compromising the foundation. Make sure you have something like those concrete trays in place to take water from the downspouts away from the house.

Check the seal on that utility door from the garage to the outside, especially at the bottom. Those doors are often framed in wood, and if water congregates there, the casing will rot.

Finally, cut away overhanging tree branches. The shade is nice, but the leaves just clog your gutters and, if we get a good blow, even a small branch can fall and damage your roof.

This is by no means a complete list and I’m not a trained contractor; however, if you had a big diamond ring, you wouldn’t let it get dirty or loose in the setting. Your home is your diamond!

Here’s an admonition and a link to maintenance checklists from Elsa Home Inspections web site.

“Once you've purchased your Florida home there are several very important and new responsibilities you inherit. The maintenance of your Florida home is a top priority. The correct Preventative maintenance can save you thousands in home repairs over the years. Here are several steps you should take on a monthly, bi-annual, and annual basis. “

http://www.elsahomeinspections.com/home-tips.html