All summer, homeowners and renters find themselves working on seasonal home maintenance chores that aren’t glamorous but need to be accomplished, whether it’s a one-and-done job, such as painting the front door, or a continuous service, like garden upkeep.
The long warm days are rapidly approaching, and there are many home maintenance tasks that your home needs to remain looking and operating at its best. Depending on your daily schedule, breaking down summer home maintenance items into hour, day, or weekend blocks of time eases the strain of working a month’s worth of chores into a week.
Summer Home Maintenance Made Simple
Before you begin, here are four tips to help you work efficiently.
1. Prioritize the most important summer maintenance tasks for homeowners. Immediate solutions for remedying broken ceiling fans or a sluggish AC system are a must in the summer. Pulling weeds from the garden beds can wait until you have a free hour here and there.
2. For incoming and outgoing renters. Many of these home maintenance to-do items for renters are likely listed in your lease or in the move-in and move-out checklists provided by property managers and homeowners. Carefully review the expectations so you can leave the property with your entire deposit. Or, if moving in, note the deficiencies left by the previous tenants.
The same advice goes for homeowners. If a home sale is in the works over the late summer or early fall, your real estate agent will likely point out the importance of improving curb appeal and maintaining interior upkeep.
3. Some maintenance, such as major tree trimming, requires expert help. Begin asking for referrals and compare estimates from multiple insured and experienced companies, even if it's just for pressure washing the siding. Significant damage to siding and resulting mold can occur from inexperienced workers.
4. Think outside the summer months’ box. Off-season repairs and cleaning are often discounted by companies whose major work months are in the fall and winter. These "get ahead chores" also include some home maintenance for renters. For example, your chimney may need sweeping and inspection. Or, could your heating system be more efficient? Taking on these preventive maintenance tasks in the summer could prevent costly home repairs in the future.
Are there military housing home maintenance tips you should know about? Or are you wondering what home maintenance tasks are the most important for homeowners? 15 Home Maintenance Tasks and Repairs Everyone Should Know How to Do gives you the details.
Summer Maintenance Tasks Broken Down into Time Blocks
Tasks that Take an Hour or Less
Sometimes, an hour is all the time you have to contribute, but you’d like to feel you’re moving in the right direction, crossing items off your home maintenance list.
Garden. Weed flowerbeds and sidewalk cracks, pot blooming flowers, and tend to overgrown areas. Collectively, these chores spruce up the overall exterior appearance.
Clean the front entry. Wash the front door and windows, sweep the porch, clean the light fixtures, and add a new doormat. Instant refresh!
Deep clean the outdoor grill. A clean cooking surface helps to avoid accidental fires. A buildup of food debris attracts bugs and rodents.
Improve your cooling systems. Tighten ceiling fan blades and remove dust buildup. Load a fresh filter to help the air conditioning run smoothly.
Tasks for a Few Hours or a Day
Wash the windows and screens. They’re a two-part system; the other part suffers if one section isn’t clean. Invest in helpful tools, such as a window squeegee and a vacuum with an attachment, to address all the grooves in a window. Soap, water, and a brush for the screens works wonders, while a 50/50 solution of hot water and vinegar is perfect for glass.
Clean gutters and downspouts. Summer storms are heavy and unpredictable. This scenario leads to an overflow and possible flood situation if not managed multiple times a year.
Prep your deck. Sweep and inspect for damage and repair needs. Arrange outdoor furniture for optimal functionality. If you’ve stained or painted in the year before, this is the year to take it easy and enjoy your outdoor space.
Vacuum bathroom vents and registers throughout the house. If any of the vents are noisy, they could be clogged with dust and buildup. Clean vents also allow cool air to flow more efficiently.
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Maintenance Tasks for a Weekend Project
Summer maintenance projects often require more time than one day can accommodate. Note that more extensive projects, such as painting the house, need a few more days to find the best products and to make preparatory repairs.
Repair, repaint, or restain the deck. The weather is harsh on a treated surface, no matter the season. Add in regular wear and tear, and the chore list gets long. Analyze your local weather forecast and set the plan in motion to allow ample drying time. It's likely a good idea to get your deck in working order early to make the most of your hard work and extend the outdoor living season on your deck and patio.
Pressure-wash or paint your house if needed. Mildew, both green and black, thrives and spreads on siding when conditions are hot and humid. Painting a home is a huge project, likely best left to the professionals. Allow ample time to locate the ideal vendor and carefully select paint colors, particularly if a quick sale is anticipated. If the house has been recently painted, this summer might only require touch-up work.
Reseal the driveway. Similar to deck wear and tear, rain, salt, and snow degrade a surfaced driveway. Check for holes and cracks in the treatment and either patch small places or hire a company to refinish the entire driveway. Concrete slabs get a substantial makeover with power washing, which is especially beneficial for curb appeal.
If you have more time on your hands, add in chores that are seasonless or considered annual home maintenance. For example, garbage disposals are neglected until there’s a problem, and there’s always a need to ensure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are accurately reading the room. How’s the condition of your roof? Does it need a professional inspection?
The summer months will fly by, leading right up to the fall and winter maintenance projects. Stay connected with MilitaryByOwner to receive the best tips, advice, and checklists to make annual home maintenance easy all year long.
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