In preparation for writing this week’s blog post, I googled songs about the sun. Dozens of cheery, happy songs immediately sprung from the internet. Out of curiosity, I also googled songs about rain. A few select, dreary, and depressing songs popped up. I decided on Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles. The reason: we finally get at least a tease of sunshine indicating spring is on the way. After 738 straight days of rain in the Pacific Northwest (at least that is my recollection), we are finally getting some well-deserved sunshine.

While I encourage everyone to run or skip to their nearest lake, hiking trail, or outdoor bar to enjoy the weather, there are a few items to keep in mind once the rain is behind us. Once dry weather hits, it is a good idea to take stock of your property. The following is a list of a few items to check on:

1. Examine roof shingles: replace lost or damaged shingles before the sun beats down on your roof, causing further damage;
2. Examine building exteriors for rot damage: inspect any visual damage and take a close look at areas that received significant water exposure;
3. Repair or replace landscaping that took a beating during snow and heavy rains;
4. Look for cracked or broken concrete that may need to be replaced/repaired;
5. Service air conditioning units before summer weather hits; and
6. Inspect warm weather features (fountains, pools, etc.).

If you discover property damage, you may want to consult with an attorney or insurance agent about whether there may be coverage. In any event, it is wise to perform due diligence to prevent a small problem from becoming a big one.

As for me, I hope to be singing Here Comes the Sun for a long time before Here Comes the Rain Again starts to play…