After a Maine winter, your property has been through a lot — freeze-thaw cycles, heavy snow loads, ice dams, and months of sitting empty. Spring opening is your chance to catch any damage early, before small problems become expensive ones.

Here's the systematic approach we use when opening properties for our clients across mid-coast Maine each spring.

Before you even unlock the door, do a full exterior walk. You're looking for anything that changed over the winter.

Roof and gutters:

• Look for missing, lifted, or cracked shingles
• Check for sagging sections that might indicate water damage or structural stress
• Clear any debris from gutters and downspouts — leaves, pine needles, and granules from shingles all accumulate over winter
• Look for signs of ice dam damage: staining on exterior walls below the roofline, or damaged fascia boards

Foundation and exterior walls:

• Check for new cracks in the foundation, especially horizontal cracks in block foundations which can indicate pressure from frost heave
• Look for gaps around windows, doors, and where utilities enter the building
• Check wood siding and trim for paint peeling, rot, or damage from ice

Driveway and walkways:

• Note any new frost heave cracks in asphalt or concrete
• Check that drainage is flowing away from the foundation

This is the step most people are anxious about — and rightly so. Even a well-winterized home can have a surprise.

1. Before turning on the main supply, open a faucet somewhere in the house so you can hear and see water flowing when it arrives
2. Turn the main shutoff on slowly
3. Walk through every room listening for the sound of running water where there shouldn't be any
4. Check under every sink, around the water heater, and in the basement or crawlspace
5. Flush every toilet and run every faucet until the water runs clear
6. Check your water heater — if it was drained, follow the manufacturer's instructions for refilling and relighting

If you find a leak: Shut the water off immediately and call a plumber. Don't try to run water through a damaged pipe.

• Replace the furnace filter if you didn't do it when you closed up
• Turn the thermostat up and confirm the system fires and heats properly before you need it
• Bleed any radiators in a hydronic system — air gets trapped over the winter and prevents even heating
• Check that all vents and registers are open and unobstructed

Basement and crawlspace:

• Look for signs of water intrusion — staining on walls, efflorescence (white mineral deposits), or standing water
• Check for mold or mildew, especially in corners and on wood framing
• Make sure sump pump is working if you have one

Windows and doors:

• Open every window and door to check that they operate properly
• Look for signs of water infiltration around frames — staining, soft wood, or paint bubbling

Appliances:

• Reconnect and test all appliances before stocking the kitchen
• Run the dishwasher empty once before using it
• Check that the refrigerator is cooling properly before loading it with food

• Bring out and inspect patio furniture for any winter damage
• Check decks and porches for loose boards, popped nails, or soft spots indicating rot
• Reconnect garden hoses and turn on exterior hose bibs
• Inspect any irrigation systems before turning them on

If you have a vessel on the hard or in storage, spring commissioning deserves its own checklist — but at minimum:

• Inspect the hull for any damage from the haul-out or storage
• Check all through-hulls and seacocks before launching
• Test the bilge pump
• Inspect standing and running rigging for wear or chafe
• Check safety equipment: flares, life jackets, fire extinguisher

Opening a property after a Maine winter takes time and a trained eye. If you'd rather have a professional handle it — or if you want a thorough inspection report before you arrive — we offer spring opening services throughout mid-coast Maine. Call us at (207) 656-7058 or get in touch online.