Breckenridge Real Estate Tips: Cleaning Gutters

No matter where you live in Breckenridge, around Summit County or beyond, your gutters get clogged. It’s just a reality. Leaves and other types of debris make their way into our gutters and cause moisture to invade your home. From mold to leaks, gutters that don’t work properly may create major issues. 

The good news is that by cleaning out your gutters, you can avoid numerous problems. That’s why I want to pass along some important real estate tips to ensure your gutters are doing their job.

Over the years, my clients have shared many of their tricks with me concerning their approaches to this awkward task. Some of these techniques may be exactly what you need to get your gutters in good shape, too.

A Blow Out

If you like clearing your yard with a leaf blower, you might consider using this tool for your gutters as well. However, keep in mind that you will need to extend the blower’s reach to get the job done. Your local home improvement store will have attachments. Or you can put together your own extension with plumbing supplies.

Don’t worry if a leaf blower isn’t one of your lawn supplies. A shop vacuum is just as effective. By using different hose attachments and reversing the shop vacuum’s operation, you have a great tool for blowing those leaves away.

Of course, there are obvious dangers to this approach, especially if you have a multi-level home. It’s difficult enough to climb a ladder and clean out the gutters by hand. If you have to scale a ladder while holding a bulky leaf blower or shop vacuum, though, you could be putting yourself in a hazardous situation. Always think about safety before you jump into a project.

Cultivate

Sometimes it’s best to keep things simple. That’s what cultivators can do when it comes to getting rid of those leaves. Its long, wooden handle and heavy-duty tines are equipped to rip out the dirt that’s in the way. While cultivators pull up weeds and till soil for the most part, they come in handy for gutters, too.

Once again, however, a cultivator has its limitations. Like the leaf blower, cultivators are really best for single-story homes. You shouldn’t climb a ladder with a cultivator because you could lose your balance and hurt yourself.

Also, when you yank out debris from your gutters with a cultivator, the gunk inevitably will land around your house. This means you will have to invest time in cleaning the areas around your home after removing the leaves from the gutters. Essentially, you’ll be cleaning twice.

Water Wonders

Ironically, water can be quite efficient at eliminating the muck in your gutters. A garden hose and an outdoor spigot are your main tools. In addition, you’ll need a hose wand with a down-pointing spray nozzle. You might also want to purchase an extender.

Just like the above suggestions, though, using water to clean out your gutters has its drawbacks. For one, you may get wet in the process. Furthermore, while a hose has the ability to clear out the dirt in your gutters, you have a to be careful where–and how forcefully–you spray. It’s easy to get water where you don’t want it or to wash out landscaping.

Gutter Guards

All three of the previous ideas definitely offer built-in pros and cons. The final approach is probably the most effective of all. While you will have to spend more on this method, you won’t have to worry about your gutters very often after installing gutter guards.

Having professionally installed screens or guards will prevent leaves from getting into your gutters in the first place. You won’t have to worry about climbing up a ladder or carrying a clumsy contraption on the roof either.

Whatever technique you choose, it’s important to take care of your gutters. A home is a big investment and you don’t want dirty leaves to accumulate, causing avoidable–and expensive–repairs down the road. 

Want More Info?

As you can tell, home maintenance is an important part of real estate ownership. Whether you’re selling your house next month or much further down the road, I hope these solutions will help you keep your Breckenridge real estate well maintained in the long run.

If you’re ready to purchase a new home in Breckenridge or throughout Summit County, let me know. I can put together some properties that might suit your tastes. You can also start your research by browsing the updated listings on my website and when you’re ready to explore your options or prepare for showings, contact me at any time via email ([email protected]) or on my office line. I look forward to working with you!