Summer seems to creep up on us all! Luckily, with our checklist, it’s fairly simple getting ready for the season’s arrival. Even better, unlike winter, it encourages us to step outside and enjoy the fresh air, making it easy to prep your home for summer. Here are some ways to get the job done this season!
- Spray for bugs. Every few months, you should make sure to spray your doorways and lower windows for bugs. However, it’s especially important in the summer, as pests are looking to roost in your house. Fortunately, this is a quick task. Just make sure to keep young children and animals away from any pesticides, and you should be good to go.
- Weed out unwelcome plant growth. If your yard is prone to weeds, they’ll be in high gear come summertime. You can get rid of them with weed killers, but if you’re worried about children or animals ingesting chemicals, you can do the task the old-fashioned way by plucking the weeds. If you have difficulty with pulling weeds, you can also try using boiling water on them. Just be careful of the splash zone and aim only for the plants you want to eliminate!
- Finding shade. One of the main problems people encounter in the summer is finding shade. It’s especially important considering the higher risks of heatstroke and skin cancer. You can find large umbrella, either on a table or on its own, which will also have the added bonus of giving people a space to gather. A more long-term solution would be planting trees, though of course you’ll have to wait a bit for them to grow.
- Stay cool. One of the most important things to do to prep your home for summer is ensuring that you can beat the heat. To stay cool in the summer, you should make sure your air conditioning is working properly. This involves keeping it clear of overgrowth, switching out the filter, and cleaning the drain lines. If you’re unsure how to undertake this task, consider hiring someone to do maintenance. You should also make sure that you have efficient and safe fans running, whether they’re plug-ins or attached to the ceiling. Some people enjoy keeping their doors and windows open, but be warned that this free option comes with the danger of letting insects into your house.
- Maintain your garden. Lots of people enjoy keeping a garden. Many start planting in winter and spring for the summer season, but there’s still time to get work done now. Make sure that your plants are watered, repotted, and protected from pests. Looking for inspiration? Sunflowers and zinnias are beautiful, common summer choices to add to your garden. If you feel like planting small crops, tomatoes and corn are great seasonal choices.
- Do a round of safety checks. Don’t put this off—it’s important to make sure you perform safety checks all year round. This includes getting new smoke alarm batteries, making sure your dryer vent isn’t filled with lint (and fixing it if it is, as it’s a dangerous fire hazard), and cleaning gutters.
- Clear out your garage. This is best done each season. Not only does it help you get organized, but it often frees up space for cars and mowers. Plus, summer is yard sale season, so you can even make a profit out of getting rid of unwanted items. If you’d prefer not to do a yard sale, you could also donate what you clear out instead.
- Attend to your yard. Earlier, we mentioned gardening and getting rid of weeds, but that’s not all you can do to improve your yard. It’s time to get that lawnmower revving! Make sure your yard is clear of items and debris, and then get to work. It’s also a great time to prune, trim hedges, and get your lawn into shape. Just make sure to take breaks and drink plenty of water.
- Perform grill maintenance. No summer is complete without barbecues! Get your grill into shape with an in-depth cleaning. Then, you can celebrate your hard work with a delicious burger and start the season off right.
Following these steps is a sure way to prep your home for summer. Then, you can enjoy the season without worries!
For more home buying and selling advice, continue to follow the Ryan Roberts Realtor blog! And for your real estate needs in Auburn, Opelika and Lake Martin, call Ryan today at 334-750-9872, or email [email protected].