With the fierce winter temperatures finally letting up, it’s time to start preparing your home for the warm summer months. Although it seems like not much would need to be done for this time of year, now is a great time to start doing the things that are difficult to do during the cold months of the year. These include cleaning gutters and installing guards, power washing and/or cleaning the exterior of the home, and getting your lawn set up for success to be in tip top shape. 

So let’s start at the top and work our way down. As soon as it warms up, I like to get the gutters cleaned so that all the fall leaves can be removed and prevent any damage to the gutters. Given the risk of working on a ladder or any elevated space, I prefer to hire someone for this, as it is relatively inexpensive (100-200) and worth it in terms of risk/benefit analysis. Once gutters are cleaned, it’s a good idea to make sure all gutters at the ground level are routed away from your home’s foundation. Speaking of foundation, now is also a great time to seal any cracks, chips, or holes in the foundation or masonry of your home. It’s not as complicated as you would think, simply buying a concrete gap filler (sold in a tube, much like silicon) and applying in small portions will do the trick. Once that’s dried, it’s not a bad idea to address any spots/stains around the exterior of the home with a power washer. If you have a deck, it’s also a great time to take a peak underneath and make sure none of the joist rafter and nails holding it together are rusted out. If they are, I would absolutely replace them.

Finally, there’s no denying the pride of many homeowners comes from their lawn. As the weather begins to warm up in the early spring, this is a great time to aerate the lawn, applying fertilizer and seeds, and watering it consistently for a full, healthy looking lawn. 

Last but not least, it’s not summer time without backyard cookouts and gatherings. If you have a grill (in a safe area according to your town regulations), this is a great time to inspect it, clean it, and restock on propane/charcoal. All that’s left to do now is kick back and get ready to catch those rays. Thanks for reading!