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20. CHECK, REPLACE, AND INSTALL LIGHTING. Your community should have adequate lighting for residents to safely navigate their neighborhoods after dark. Make sure all lights are in proper working order and replace bulbs as needed. Look out for spots in the community with high traffic that lack proper lighting and install it where necessary. 21. INSPECT AND CARE FOR TREES. Big, leafy trees can bring a lot of curb appeal to your community. But sick trees can cause some serious property damage from fallen branches, or in extreme cases, a completely fallen tree. Prune back any dead branches, and if you're concerned about the health of any tree, have them checked out by an arborist in case they need to be removed entirely. 22. TAKE CARE OF OUTDOOR STRUCTURES. Your outdoor structures, like your decks and sheds, need just as much care and maintenance as your homes do. Community decks should be checked yearly in the spring. Look for signs of damage like loose or rotting boards, nails sticking out where they shouldn't be, and any instances of surface mold. Replace any questionable boards, hammer those nails back in – and in the case of mold, power wash the deck to bring back its shine. 23. SEAL YOUR BUILDINGS' ENVELOPES. One quick and easy job to tackle each spring is to take a walk around common area buildings to look for any broken or missing caulk around the doors and windows. Sealing these gaps will prevent air leakage from the structure; reinforcing the seal around your doors and windows goes a long way to combating heat loss from drafts. 24. DON'T PUT OFF PREPPING YOUR POOL FOR SUMMER. If your pool's been closed all winter long, take the time to get it ready for summer well in advance. Drain the water from the pool cover, inspect your filters and pumps for damage, clean the filters, and make sure you're well-stocked on your supplies (chemicals, new filters, and replacement parts) so the pool can stay open all season long. METICULOUS MAINTENANCE FOR COMMUNITIES BUILT TO LAST By Mike Holmes, professional contractor and TV personality 6

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