Herb Gardening and Household Maintenance

"Mom, I think the marigolds sacrificed themselves for the herbs," volunteered my younger daughter, Julia, as we reviewed our recently planted herb patch.  We had added 18 marigolds to provide a natural pest repellent to the only sunny corner of our yard capable of supporting herbs.  The marigolds are decimated, eaten to the stems; the basil, rosemary, cilantro and thyme are thriving.

Her observation got me thinking about home maintenance (oddly).  We plant marigolds to distract pests from the tasty herbs.  So, too, does our hot water heater contain a sacrificial anode rod of magnesium or aluminum so the rust particles attack it before the sides of the tank.  The rod will fail before the tank does, thus saving us a flooded basement.  Of course we have to inspect the tank and rod occasionally to make sure we replace the appliance before we experience that bigger flooding issue.

Even long-time homeowners can become remiss about completing basic preventive home maintenance tasks.  These chores are boring yet typically inexpensive ways to preserve the quality and functioning of your home systems and features.  Let's face it - it is not fun to change the air filter in our air-conditioning or furnace air handler and it is easy to forget.  Out of sight, out of mind.  The disposable filters range from $10 to $20 and though you should change them monthly, at least once a season try to switch them out.  Buy in bulk so you have them on hand instead of buying them individually when you need them.  I find the box of them in the utility room is a great reminder.

Bigger problems could stem from an old or wind-damaged roof.  In addition to the roof shingles themselves, even more critical to water deflection is the flashing at joints, changes in angles, edges, etc.  If you are not comfortable or capable on a ladder, it is not expensive to find a roofer or gutter expert to provide you with a brief visual inspection of the roof and flashing to determine if they need repair.  Better a couple hundred dollars on roof or flashing repair than thousands fixing water-damaged drywall, insulation and flooring.  Note in the photo: that extra edge of material just under the shingles as seen on my roof is the flashing, wrapping protectively around the wood trim.

As a real estate agent, I believe in helping people with real estate decisions whether they are buying, selling or staying, because maintaining your home while it is yours is just as important as the condition of a house during a sale.