Spring has sprung and it’s time to get outside and spruce up the outside (and inside) of your home! Get ready to tackle some springtime to-dos this weekend and keep your home in tip-top shape.
As the warmer spring months and longer days are upon us, there are some great things we can do to keep our homes in tip-top shape. With the help of Realtor.com and Houzz.com, we’ve compiled a list of great home maintenance tips for spring!
April
- Wash windows. Welcome the spring sunshine by clearing dirt and grime from windows inside and out. After cleaning the glass, take an extra moment to wipe the window frame and sill.
- Clear clutter. Whether you are Marie Kondoing or not – Create more space in your home by clearing out unloved items. Surprised by how much you were able to declutter? Hold a garage sale or contact a local non-profit to schedule a pickup — some will send a truck free of charge if you’re donating large items like furniture. If you have a lot of one type of item (for example, books or baby clothes), look for a consignment shop in your town where you may be able to sell them. And if you don’t want to do either of those, make sure you at least recycle those items through companies like SimpleRecycling.com where they will come and pick them up to be recycled properly right from your curb. Helping less materials end up in our landfills.
- Safety check. Test batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replacing them as needed. It’s also a good idea to periodically check for recalls of your home safety products; you can find up-to-date listings at Recalls.gov.
- Schedule cooling-system maintenance. If you’re in North Texas, you most likely have central air conditioning. Be sure to schedule professional maintenance before the start of summer. A properly maintained system cools better, uses less energy and lasts longer.
- Boost curb appeal. Spring is a wonderful time to make upgrades to your home’s exterior, and even small changes — like putting up bold house numbers and fresh flowers — can make a big impact. If you’re thinking of putting your house on the market this spring or summer, increasing curb appeal can help lure in potential buyers, making it especially important. Call us at 214-267-9222 and we can help you with deciding on what to do and how best to appeal to buyers before you start.
May
- Check outdoor lighting. Make sure all outdoor lights are in working order, including porch lights, landscape lighting, and motion-sensing security lights. Replace bulbs or schedule repairs as needed.
- Get ready for grilling season. Giving your grill a deep cleaning before the start of the season will help it work more efficiently and prevent flare-ups. Clean the grates and interior with a grill brush and wash the exterior with warm, soapy water. Clean and organize your grilling tools (tongs, spatula, skewers) and pick up charcoal or propane if needed.
- Maintain and repair paths. Refresh hardscaping features. Create neat edges, pull weeds, fill in gravel paths with fresh gravel and replace or reposition broken stepping stones.
- Paint or stain your home’s exterior. Restain fence, if needed. Longer days and generally milder weather make May a good month to schedule house painting. If your home has a wood-shingled exterior or accents, replace any damaged shingles and have a fresh coat of stain applied if needed. It can be as much as a full repaint, trim paint or just a front door refresh.
- Clean walls and touch up paint. Use a dusting attachment on your vacuum or an electrostatic duster to remove dust from walls, paying special attention to corners and baseboards. For a deeper clean, wipe down walls with warm, soapy water after dusting. Rinse with clean water, using a lint-free cloth. Touch up paint as needed on interior walls and trim.
- Inspect kitchen and bath fixtures. Keeping an eye on these areas can help prevent costly water damage and repairs later on. Make a plan to regrout or recaulk around counters and tile as needed. If you come across any slow leaks, have these repaired as well.
June
- Empty standing water regularly. The best way to keep mosquito populations down is by regularly checking your property for standing water and emptying it. Even a saucer of water can become a mosquito nursery, so leave no pot unturned!
- Check play equipment for safety. Over time, wood, ropes and fastenings can degrade, making outdoor play equipment potentially unsafe. Check swings, zip lines, slides and other structures for safety; repair or replace as needed.
- Reorganize your kitchen. The change in seasons is a good time to rethink how you have things arranged in the kitchen. If there are small appliances you use more in the warmer months (a blender for smoothies, perhaps, or an ice cream maker), move them to a more accessible spot, and you will be more likely to use them. Stations devoted to a certain purpose can also do wonders. If you have children on summer vacation, create a self-help station stocked with healthy snacks. Or create an iced-coffee bar or smoothie-making station for yourself with all needed supplies within reach.
- Keep an eye on irrigation systems. A faulty sprinkler or irrigation hose that goes unnoticed can quickly cause big problems for your lawn and garden. Make a habit of checking each component once a week, especially in summer.
- Give your garage or shed a clean-out. Since you’ll likely be spending more time in your outdoor spaces during the summer, it’s a good idea to take some time at the start of the season to clear out space in your storage area. Take old paint cans to a hazardous waste drop-off point, sell or give away items you no longer want and organize what’s left into zones of use: garden tools and supplies, outdoor adventures and sports gear, and household tools.
Before summer is upon us and all the fun it will bring, tackle some of those spring to do’s and you will feel so refreshed for the summer season!
Ready to tackle even more every month? Below you can find more expansive to-do lists month-by-month:
April
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/to-dos-your-april-home-checklist-stsetivw-vs~61422496
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/spring-2019-home-maintenance-checklist/
May
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/to-dos-your-may-home-checklist-stsetivw-vs~64735095
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/spring-2019-home-maintenance-checklist/
June
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/to-dos-your-june-home-checklist-stsetivw-vs~64799711
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/spring-2019-home-maintenance-checklist/
