The temperatures are rising here in the Midwest, but we have a long way to go to the blistering heat that takes over in the summer. In preparation for the scorching summer season, we’ve outlined four projects that will ensure your home stays clean and comfortable all season.

Clean Gutters

Cleaning your gutters isn’t necessarily a fun DIY project, but you’ve had a whole fall and winter to fill your gutters with leaves, dirt, sleet, and debris. Cleaning them out before the weather heats up will help protect your home during summer storms and the following fall and winter. You can clean them yourself with the help of a ladder, or you can hire a professional gutter cleaner. Not cleaning your gutters regularly can land you with costly damages or a replacement if they get damaged because they weren’t maintained.

Power Wash

Your home likely took a beating between winter weather and spring storms, so it could do with a thorough power washing before the weather heats up. Power washing your home is a great way to quickly and efficiently remove dirt and grime from your siding, fences, sidewalks, and deck. You’ll end up with a house that sparkles, and it’s a fun and satisfying project to DIY. If you don’t own a power washer, your local hardware store likely has them for rent.

Spruce up the Garden

If you’re an avid gardener, it’s likely you did a thorough spring clean-up as soon as the snow melted, but those plant beds may have overgrown now that the temperatures are increasing. Now is a great time to pluck out any weeds and fill in bald spots from your initial planting. It’s a good time to lay down grass seed in your yard to help ensure it’s lush and green for barbecue season.

Service your AC

There’s no worse feeling than turning on your AC only to find that it’s not working. To prevent miserably hot days in your home, get your AC serviced now. Hiring a professional to ensure everything is in working order will help to keep you cool the whole summer. You should also replace your air filter, typically suggested every 30-90 days, so your unit runs as efficiently as possible.

Declutter

Once the summer heat rolls in, staying inside will be the best way to stay cool. That means it’s a wonderful time to assess your home and declutter anything you don’t need anymore. Clean out your closets, get rid of old clothes, and donate any household items you don’t need anymore. If you want to cash-in on items you’ve had for a while, summer is a great time to have a garage sale. You can get rid of your unwanted items and make some money to reinvest in your home or go on a summer getaway.

Once temperatures start rising, it can be difficult to find the motivation to get out and do your necessary home maintenance. Getting these projects out of the way before summer will not only keep your home in good shape all season long, but you’ll be able to avoid these labors in the blistering summer heat.

If you’re doing home maintenance to get it ready to put on the market, don’t forget to reach out to your Flat Branch Home Loans lender for more tips to help you get into your next dream home!

5 Projects to Get Your Home Summer Ready