Look for damaged, loose or missing shingles, tiles or shakes.

Make sure all roof mount vents, gable vents and soffit vents are open and clear for adequate air flow. Do not block or restrict the air flow through the attic.

Clean gutters and check for leaky seams, unsecured hangers and improper drainage of the downspouts.

Direct downspout run-off away from the foundation.

Check the flashing around the chimney or where the roof meets the wall. Check the valley material where two roof tiles meet. The material is usually a lighter weight than the roof covering and requires added maintenance.

Check skylights, antenna mounts, plumbing and roof vents. Caulk or replace as necessary.

Check gable vents and repair any missing or broken screen coverings. Remove any bird or hornet nests.

Check the chimney for loose mortar and caulk or tuckpoint as needed. Have the chimney cleaned, the chimney top cracks sealed and a chimney cap installed.

Know the location of the service panel and how to turn the system off.

On the panel door put a list of what each breaker is for.

For fused services keep a supply of 15 and 20 amp fuses handy. Never overfuse a circuit by replacing a blown 15 or 20 amp fuse with a 30 amp fuse.

Replace all broken receptacles and covers.

If you have ground-fault-circuit interrupters (GFCIs), these need to be tripped and reset periodically.

Check and replace any frayed or broken extension cords.

Check the outside wiring coming from the utility company for frayed insulation and check to see if any wires are covered by tree limbs. Contact your utility company if there is a problem.

Check smoke alarms and replace batteries as needed.

Check the crawl space for evidence of standing water or flooding.

Check any sump pumps to make sure they are operable. Make sure one is not connected to the sewer system.

Remove vegetation and other debris from the crawl space and cover the ground with a heavy plastic vapor barrier.

Check kitchens and bathrooms for signs of leaky fixtures.

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