Spring is in full swing in North Texas and it might be a good time to revisit your home inspection report to ensure your home is prepared for the season ahead and repair any damage from the most severe winter storm we have endured in years.

Although springtime may bring about thoughts of gentle rain, fresh flowers, green grass, and an overall sense of renewal, spring can sometimes look a little different around here. This time of year can bring about everything from gentle rains to thunderstorms to hail and even tornados.

Your home inspection report is a great resource for tips and ideas to keep your home maintained. Is your home prepared to keep you safe and dry during spring storms? Here are 3 quick tips pulled from a home inspection report plus a bonus suggestion to help make sure you're prepared.

Trim Your Trees
One of the biggest ways you can prevent damage to your home during a storm is to keep the trees maintained. Trees that are too close to your roof can rub your shingles in the wind leading to damage and even removal of the shingles. In addition, tree limbs can break and fall, any that break while overhanging your house can cause damage to your roof or walls. Keep in mind trees can not only land on your house, but also vehicles, people, and power lines.

Check And Clean Drainage Systems
Having a proper drainage system can prevent flood damage from stormwater. Be sure your gutters have been cleaned out after fall and winter, and that downspouts allow water to discharge away from your home. If you have subsurface drains, be sure they are free and clear of debris. Subsurface drains that have backups and clogs can lead to standing water and flooding around your home. In certain circumstances, broken subsurface drains can even lead to water penetration or damage to your home’s foundations. You can find more details about the type of drainage system you have in your home inspection report.

Check Your Rain Gauge
If your sprinkler system has a rain gauge, it’s time to check it and make sure it is working. Many sprinkler systems have a wireless rain gauge that requires batteries. Some have a simple receiver close to the controller with a digital screen letting you know the battery life, other older models do not. Be careful changing these as many are mounted to the gutter or roof of your home. You can find photos with the gauge’s location in your home inspection report under “Landscape Irrigation”.

Emergency Preparedness Kit
The recent winter storm left many Texans entirely unprepared for even the most basic of needs like clean water, bandages, blankets, and flashlights. If the last 15 months has taught us anything, it is that having a basic emergency preparedness kit ready and on hand long before an emergency is just plain smart.

Final Thoughts
It’s never too early to be prepared. Start by reviewing your home inspection report for any details on your drainage system, roof, landscape irrigation system and more. Once you have a good feel for what you have, do a basic walk around your house and remember to keep in mind the systems we discussed in this article. Finally, putting together a basic emergency kit can provide some comfort in the event of an emergency.

If you can’t find your home inspection report, just let us know and we’ll send a copy over to you.