9 Home Maintenance Tips for the Summer 

Power Wash Siding or Brick - Typically over the winter months your home will start to develop some build up on the sides of your house. Gunk and mud from the snow and moisture can stick to the outside walls and quickly become visible. Power washing the siding on your home can help tremendously, especially if you have the patients to do a solid job on it. In many cases after power washing, the outside of your house will look better than the day you bought it.

Repaint – This can be a make-or-break cosmetic repair to your home. If you have chipped paint or paint that is just coming off the sides of your house, its time to repaint. In a perfect world, you would scrape off all the excess and old paint from the previous job, sand it down and repaint. This, as well as power washing, can literally make an older home look brand new. Or at least make it look like it has been very well maintained over its lifetime.

Gutters – Oh those pesky gutters!! Everyone’s least favorite activity must be cleaning the gutters. While boring, mundane, and possibly even dangerous if you are not careful, it should be a priority. Your gutters need to be cleaned and free of debris so the water from rain, snow, and moisture in general need to have a cleared path off your roof. If your gutters get full it is possible to have overflow, blockage, and even roof damage if left untreated for long enough. Clean those gutters!

Windows – Window cleaning is something that is not difficult at all and makes a big difference. Tedious maybe, but not difficult. You could even hire somebody for somewhat inexpensively to come clean your windows for you. It will make the outside of your home look better as well as providing better lighting on the inside of your home. And if nothing else it will just be more aesthetically pleasing to you as you look out your windows, which you probably do more than you realize until you get them cleaned. You will notice the difference.

Inspect Foundation – Inspecting your foundation is crucial. If there is an issue with your foundation it can quickly cause some serious structural problems in your home. The longer you leave it unrepaired or without even knowing there is a problem, the worse the issues will be and the more costly it will end up. It is recommended in places with drastic weather changes throughout seasons to get it checked out twice a year or even every quarter. Having a professional inspector look at your foundation can end up saving you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Re-Stain Decks – Decks and outdoor wooded areas absorb some serious damage throughout the seasons. Especially the bipolar weather and brutal winters we endure here in Montana. A simple sanding and staining can make that deck last an extra 5-10 years if done regularly.

Furnace & Washer/Dryer Filters – Clean out those filters! This one is an important one, as it can save your entire home. Filters tend to get dirty and build up debris. Occasionally they can even catch fire and that is what you want to avoid at all costs. Simply making sure your filters are cleaned and serviced properly every year can ensure your home does not set a blaze.  

HVAC System Serviced – This one should be a no brainer. Everyone loves their AC in the summer. Depending on where you live you may not need AC, but if you live in an area that gets HOT in the summer, this will be important. Before every summer you should be getting your HVAC system checked and serviced. This will make the difference in having a great summer or having a miserable summer. If your Air Conditioning unit isn’t working, that means no cool air at the touch of a button. Often if you have 0 AC, the inside of your home will be hotter than it is outside! So, make sure to get those HVAC systems checked out ahead of time.

Check Plumbing – Most professionals will tell you that you should get your plumbing inspected at least once every two years. If you own an older home you may want to do this more frequently, but the general rule of thumb is once every two years. Once an inspector comes out, they should check your entire plumbing system and will be able to tell you if there are any leaks, weak spots, clogged drains, or water heater issues. The simple phone call to a plumber can save you a lot of money in damages and a lot of heart ache.

Recent Population Growth in Montana

As many people are aware there continues to be an increase in population in Montana, specifically in Bozeman, Missoula, Whitefish and Kalispell areas. Its hard to blame people for wanting to move to such a beautiful part of the country, but that does not mean that all residents are happy about it. Many people are coming forward with concerns that they will soon lose their way of life with the influx of out-of-state homebuyers. While Montana still very much holds up its reputation as a farming and agricultural state, we are seeing some expansion in commercial business, road construction, and new housing developments. As well as an increasingly competitive housing market, where more and more people are finding it difficult to afford a home in their own town.

Why are all these people suddenly deciding to move to The Big Sky? Primarily because of the pandemic and politics. Many people are tired of worrying about Covid-19 and being told what they can and cannot do with their personal and professional lives. A great number of people from out of state are looking at the way Montana has been handling the pandemic and quickly getting back to normalcy and these newcomers want the same thing. They see Montana as a place where the progressive culture has not taken over, and where ongoing riots and looting are not experienced. In many cases people are coming here to escape the realities of living in a larger city.

Where are all these new people coming from? Most people moving to Montana from out of state are coming from areas of Washington, California, Colorado, and even Texas. They are longing for a peaceful way of life and the calm atmosphere that the great state of Montana offers. Realistically most people understand that they are moving for a reason, to get away from where they came from and to not bring it along with them. Citizens of Montana are just praying that they do not turn Montana into another California or Washington

With this sudden wave of new residence, Montana has regained another U.S. House seat, bringing back the seat we lost nearly 30 years ago. This means there will be more representation for the state of Montana in Congress. All in all, Montana is going to be just fine. We are lucky to be able to call such a beautiful place home. With views like we have and the freedom to explore thousands and thousands of acres of wilderness, national parks and public land, no wonder everyone wants to be here!

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