Regular maintenance will keep your home in great shape and make it comfortable for you and your family. But summer means taking some extra care to ensure that your home is ready for all the entertaining you plan to do.
This is a contributed post and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Meet The Harris Family.
Naturally, you will do boring jobs like inspect grout and check your HVAC system, but you need to consider aspects like bug proofing the house. An excellent way to do this without resorting to too many chemicals is to plant bush borders of plants that are natural bug repellents like citronella and lavender.
If you have a deck, it might be a good idea to get a lawn irrigation system installed out in the garden. This can save you money and time while keeping your garden refreshed in the summer heat. This will ensure a pretty great view as you and your family relax out on the deck.
Home maintenance may not sound like fun, but the sense of accomplishment you get when your house looks practically new after you’re done will be well worth the effort.
Curb Appeal
An excellent steady look at your home from the curb should give you an idea of what needs fixing, so the exterior of your house makes a good impression. This is also the best way to tell if you need to go up on the roof and make a closer inspection.
Take note of your walkway and driveway to identify if you need to use a pressure washer and fix cracks. It’s also a good idea to trim your lawn and start planning out your new herbaceous borders.
You may want to consider painting your front door as well. The front door can influence visitors’ opinion before they even step through it, so it’s a good idea to make sure it looks well-maintained. If your taste does not run to bold colors, then a fun novelty door knocker is an excellent way to add some personality to a door without looking garish.
Finally, clean out your gutters and paint your sidings to give your home a clean and trim look that will help it to look brand new.
Test Your Windows, Doorbell, and Alarms
It is a good idea to test your doorbell to make sure it is working well. It will be easier to have it fixed or replaced now than to find out it isn’t functioning when people are at your house for a party.
Checking the windows is a good idea as the winter months would not have given you much reason to open them. A few may be stuck or distorted from damp and need to fix to ensure your home is sealed well.
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors need regular maintenance, just like any device. Testing them in summer makes it easier to arrange for repair and replacement than during winter. It also ensures that your home is a safe place for your family and friends to come and stay.
Clear Out the Garage
Many people underestimate how valuable a garage can be for storage. Consider clearing out the garage and having a yard sale to eliminate the many items you no longer use. Once this is done, you can organize your garage with some suitable shelving so you can get some actual use out of it.
Large hooks can be fixed to the wall to hang large items like skis and bicycles. Smaller shelves are suitable for storing work tools, gear, and hardware. Add some covered spaces in the shelving that you can use to store winter clothing and accessories to free up space inside the house.
Recessed Lighting
Holding parties in summer means that more often than not, they will take place outside. This means you will need to use recessed lighting to keep your backyard well-lit and hazard-free while improving the garden’s aesthetic appeal.
It would be a good idea for you to include the maintenance of any outdoor plug points in your maintenance schedule. These can easily be damaged by melting snow or extreme weather cracking the covers keeping the plugs safe.
If you see any discoloration or the cover is cracked, it would be best to call an electrician to fix it. While they are there, get their input on how best to arrange the recessed lighting in your backyard and connect it to the plug point without overwhelming your home’s electric grid. An electrician might give you some better ideas on managing the electricity and where to get the most power-efficient lights.
Once your home is in good shape, you will know what you need to add or replace to make your home the go-to location for summer fun. A misting fan may not replace a pool, but your adult friends will appreciate having a great space to sit down and enjoy a cool drink. Set up a kiddie pool in the garden so the children can enjoy themselves without bothering their parents.
Consider replacing the old patio furniture with a new set. This will allow you to give your guests a much more comfortable area to relax in and have fun. It’s best for safety since the old furniture may have weakened in the winter month due to lack of use and maintenance. It’s an investment worth making as you are sure to use the furniture several times through the season.
