Summer Home Care Advice
As we approach the heat of the summer, it’s time to start thinking about your essential summer home maintenance tasks. These tasks aren’t just for keeping your home looking its best; they’re about preserving your home’s health, preventing costly issues, and enhancing your home’s value. We understand that being a homeowner comes with challenges, but we’re here to help you navigate them smoothly. This article on summer home care advice is a comprehensive guide to help you understand and prioritize tasks that will ensure your home’s well-being this summer.
Essential Summer Home Maintenance Tasks
Each season brings unique challenges to homeowners. While winter may protect against cold and snow, summer is about tackling heat and humidity. Let’s start with some of the essential summer maintenance tasks to keep your home in tip-top shape.
Cleaning Home Exterior
The exterior of your home, including your home’s siding (vinyl, aluminum, wood, or composition), is the first line of defense against the elements. During summer, your home exterior can become dirty due to dust, pollen, and other outdoor elements. Pressure washing is an effective way to clean your home’s exterior, adding instant curb appeal and helping to prevent the build-up of damaging materials like mold or mildew.
Window Cleaning and Screen Inspection
Your home’s windows and screens are more than just a way to view the beautiful Oklahoma City landscapes; they’re essential to your home’s interior health. Summer is the perfect time for window cleaning, as well-maintained windows allow more natural light into your home and improve energy efficiency. While cleaning your windows, inspecting and repairing damaged screens is vital to keep pests out and improve airflow.
Ceiling Fan Maintenance
Ceiling fans are workhorses that greatly contribute to your home’s comfort during hot summer days. But they require care too. Dust the blades, check for any wobbly movement, and ensure the fan is set to rotate counterclockwise for the summer, pushing cool air down.
Outdoor Grill Preparation
For many, summer means grilling. But a proper check-up is necessary before you fire up your outdoor grill. Cleaning your grill’s firebox and burners not only increases your grill’s lifespan but also enhances your food’s safety and flavor.
Garden Maintenance
Your home’s gardens aren’t just an aesthetic asset; they also contribute to the overall health of your property. Keeping them well-maintained is a necessary summer home maintenance task. Regular watering, weeding, mulching, and pruning during summer can keep your plants healthy and vibrant. It’s also a great time to plant heat-tolerant flowers and veggies.
Deck and Patio Check
Your home’s deck or patio will likely be used during the warm summer months. To ensure safety and longevity, it’s crucial to check for any signs of wear and tear. Look for any loose boards, rusted nails, or signs of rot. Consider resealing your deck or patio to protect it from the elements, especially if it hasn’t been done in a few years. Proper care of your deck and patio increases its lifespan and improves your home’s curb appeal, making it more attractive to home buyers.
We’ll be covering more on home maintenance tasks in the next sections. Keep reading!
Fence Inspection
Your home’s fence is more than just a boundary line; it’s a significant aspect of your home’s curb appeal. Summer is a prime time for fence inspections. Check for any loose or rotting boards, peeling paint, or rust, especially if your fence is made of wood or metal. Regular maintenance can extend the life of your fence and keep it looking its best. If you’re considering home selling, a well-maintained fence can also increase your property’s appeal to potential buyers.
Grading Around Your Home
Proper grading around your home’s foundation is crucial to prevent water from pooling and potentially causing foundation issues. Summer is an excellent time to inspect the grading around your home. Ensure the ground slopes away from your home’s foundation to prevent water damage, a potentially costly issue. If there are any areas where water tends to gather, you might need to consider regrading or adding drainage.
Gutter Check
Your home’s gutter and downspouts play a vital role in directing rainwater away from your home, thereby protecting your roof, walls, and foundation from water damage. Regular gutter checks are necessary, especially after spring, when they may have collected leaves and debris. A clogged gutter can cause water to spill over the sides, potentially damaging your home’s siding and foundation.
Cleaning your home’s gutter and downspouts should be critical to your summer home maintenance tasks. Ensure they are free from debris, properly aligned, and securely attached. If needed, consider installing gutter guards to minimize the accumulation of debris and reduce maintenance needs.
Advanced Home Care Tips for Summer
Now that we’ve covered the essential tasks let’s move on to some advanced tips. These tips can further improve your home’s health, boost its value, and make it more appealing if you’re considering home selling.
Energy Efficiency Tips for Summer
During the summer, your home’s central air conditioning unit works overtime. Consider servicing it before the heat sets in to enhance its efficiency and lifespan. Clean or replace air filters, check for leaks, and ensure the outside unit is free of obstructions.
Likewise, your home’s lighting and windows greatly affect energy consumption. Consider using energy-efficient LED lights and insulating your windows to keep the cool and hot air in.
For more detailed advice on energy-efficient cooling, you can check out this comprehensive guide by Energy Star.
Pest Control Tips for Summer
Pests can become particularly troublesome during the summer months. They not only pose a nuisance but can also cause significant damage to your home’s interior and exterior. To keep pests at bay, ensure your home’s basement, attic, and other dark, damp places are clean and dry. Seal any cracks or holes in your home’s exterior and interior where pests could enter. Regularly trim trees and shrubs near your home’s windows or siding to deter pests from finding a way inside. Lastly, consider using eco-friendly pesticides around the perimeter of your home for an extra layer of protection.
Now that we have covered the essential summer maintenance tasks and some advanced tips, let’s discuss how all this effort impacts home selling.
The Impact of Summer Home Care on Home Selling
You may wonder why these maintenance tasks are so crucial, especially if you’re planning on home buying or selling a home. Let’s dive into it.
Increasing Home Value through Summer Home Care
Routine summer home maintenance can significantly increase your home’s value. From cleaning the exterior to maintaining your home’s gardens, each task helps enhance your home’s overall appeal. A well-maintained home is more attractive to potential buyers and can fetch a better price on the market.
Improving Curb Appeal for Summer Home Selling
Curb appeal is a significant factor in home selling. A well-maintained home’s exterior, a beautiful garden, a clean and sturdy deck or patio, and a robust fence – all these factors greatly enhance your home’s curb appeal during summer.
Potential buyers often form their first impression from the home’s exterior, so make sure to pressure wash your home’s siding, keep the lawn mowed and edged, maintain the gardens, and ensure your home’s roof and gutters are in good shape. Well-maintained windows and screens also add to the aesthetic appeal, allowing for a bright, welcoming interior.
As we wrap up, let’s recap our summer home care advice and how it helps enhance your home’s value, especially if you’re considering home selling.
Final Thoughts
Home care during summer involves a range of tasks – from cleaning your home’s exterior and maintaining the garden to checking the deck and inspecting the fence. Your home’s health depends on these tasks, which are vital in preventing costly issues down the line.
Being a homeowner can be challenging, especially when it comes to maintenance tasks. But remember, a well-maintained home looks good and is healthy, efficient, and ready for any season. Plus, it’s a worthwhile investment, especially when you decide to step into the world of home selling.
Summer Home Care Advice FAQs
How often should I perform these summer home maintenance tasks?
While some tasks, like cleaning the home’s exterior or inspecting your home’s roof, may only need to be done once a year or every couple of years, others should be performed more regularly. Tasks such as checking your home’s central air conditioning unit or maintaining your home’s gardens might need to be done monthly or even weekly, depending on your local climate and the specific conditions of your property.
Can I perform these home maintenance tasks myself, or do I need to hire a professional?
Many of these tasks can be done by homeowners themselves, especially with a bit of research and the right tools. However, some tasks, such as servicing your home’s central air conditioning unit or assessing your home’s exterior grading, might require professional help due to their complexity or the specific expertise needed.
How do these summer home maintenance tasks improve my home’s value?
Regular home maintenance preserves the condition of your home, preventing costly damages and extending the lifespan of various elements like your home’s siding, roof, and HVAC system. Furthermore, a well-maintained home is more appealing to potential buyers, meaning that if you ever decide to sell, you’re likely to get a better price for your property.
What’s the best way to plan for these summer home maintenance tasks?
Start by creating a comprehensive list of tasks and prioritizing them based on their urgency and the time required to complete them. Tasks that require professional assistance, like servicing the central air conditioning unit, should be scheduled well in advance. Remember to also consider the costs involved and budget accordingly.
How can I enhance my home’s energy efficiency during summer?
To enhance energy efficiency during summer, ensure your central air conditioning unit is well-maintained and serviced. Cleaning or replacing air filters can help the system work more efficiently. Consider insulating your home’s windows to keep the cool and hot air in. Using energy-efficient LED lights can also reduce electricity consumption. Lastly, make use of ceiling fans to circulate cool air and reduce the load on your air conditioning system.
Luxury Specialist at McGraw Realtors
With a diverse background, including a career as an Air Force fighter pilot and entrepreneurship, Bill transitioned to real estate in 1995. Co-founding Paradigm Realty with his wife, Charlene, he quickly rose to prominence in Oklahoma City’s luxury real estate scene. Now, as one of the top agents with annual sales surpassing $20 million, Bill’s dedication to exceptional service remains unparalleled. With a legacy spanning over two decades in the industry, Bill’s expertise and commitment make him a trusted name in luxury real estate.