The homeowner’s summer checklist
Key takeaways:
It’s summertime! Yes, this often means family vacations, attending barbeques with friends and long days at the beach. However, for many homeowners, the warmer season that we love triggers the need for home maintenance and repairs. If you’re looking for some guidance to help your home flourish through summer, we’ve got your back with this summer home maintenance checklist.
Let’s review some summer home maintenance tips that may be helpful for you.
According to Hippo's summer home maintenance survey, nearly half (44%) of the people surveyed said they are using a pre-planned budget to finance summer home maintenance and repair projects this year. However, there's no need to panic if you don't have your budget planned yet. One of the keys to any successful home maintenance plan is knowing exactly what needs to be done. Luckily, we’re here to help.
Six important exterior home maintenance tips
Inspect and clean your gutters
It’s important to clean your gutters. Clogged gutters can divert water flow to unwanted places. Removing debris to ensure proper water drainage may help avoid damage to other parts of your home.
Pressure wash your surfaces
This is a great way to improve your curb appeal and make your neighbors take notice. Set some time aside to pressure wash and clean your siding, decks and patios to remove dirt and mildew.
Inspect the roof
Your roof is one of the most essential parts of your home. Conducting a roof inspection and checking for damages or signs of wear, especially from past storms, is necessary to avoid expensive repairs.
Service your A/C unit
Your A/C works hard to keep your home cool during the summer months. Hiring a professional to service your system can maximize its effectiveness. You can also be more energy efficient during the summer by changing the direction of your ceiling fans.
Check your windows and doors
In addition to adding ceiling fans and taking care of your A/C, checking your windows and doors to prevent air leakage is crucial for energy efficiency during the summer. Set aside some time in your maintenance list to inspect for leaks or drafts and apply caulking or weather stripping where necessary. Summer can bring extreme temperatures, and protecting your home from extreme heat makes sense.
Inspect your faucets and outdoor plumbing
Don’t neglect your outdoor plumbing. Check for leaks and ensure all outdoor water systems are functioning correctly. Ignoring a leak outdoors can be a costly mistake that could set you back financially.
Tips for lawn and garden care
Maintain your lawn
According to USA Today, lawn care maintenance and care typically cost between $500-$800 per year. Whether you plan to take this project on by yourself or hire a landscaping company to handle it, regular mowing, watering and fertilizing is important to keep your lawn healthy.
Trim and prune your plants and flowers
Give yourself a fun outdoor weekend project by trimming your plants every few weeks. This will encourage growth and help keep your lawn and garden looking good.
Plant some drought-resistant varieties
This is an intelligent hack for anyone who is busy and lacks time to care for their plants. To give yourself a break, opt for plants that require less water and maintenance.
Invest in vegetable and herb gardens
Planting and maintaining edible gardens can be rewarding and beautiful. From tomatoes to mangoes, there are lots of options to keep you busy.
Your interior summer home maintenance checklist
Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Safety always comes first and this is extremely important. Replace batteries if needed and ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors function correctly.
Do some deep cleaning
While spring cleaning is often the focus of many homeowners, there’s no reason why you should neglect your home during the summer. An excellent summer deep cleaning can keep your home looking and feeling better. This will increase your comfort level and make it easier to host friends and family on a whim. Remember to focus on areas like the kitchen and bathrooms where grime builds up.
Check your basement and attic
After decorating and settling into a home, some people neglect two areas. That's right; we're talking about the basement and the attic. Even if you use these areas of your home as mere storage spaces, it is important to inspect them. Remember to look for signs of pests, mold or water damage. By discovering these things early, you may be able to avoid some costly repairs.
Dehumidify your space
Dehumidifiers are often used in damp areas to prevent mold and mildew. While this is true, having a dehumidifier in your home has many benefits that could help you during the summer—including reducing annoying allergens that keep you sneezing all day.
Financial planning for home maintenance
While we understand that many home maintenance projects can be exciting, we are also aware that some can prove to be expensive. So, as you begin to think about your summer maintenance plans, it’s important to have a budget in place that you can rely on. Here are some options that may help.
Create an emergency fund for home repairs
Here's a tip: establish a savings account specifically for unexpected home repairs. Even if you only save a little at a time, you'll do your part to create an emergency fund that you can feel good about. By having extra money in your bank account, you'll be less stressed about buying a new refrigerator, freezer or any other appliance that stops working unexpectedly.
Consider home warranty plans
A home warranty plan can provide significant benefits, such as covering costs for repairs and replacements of home systems and appliances due to wear and tear. In other words, if you pay a monthly or annual fee for a Cinch home warranty plan* when your washer and dryer, dishwasher or other covered appliances stop working, you’ll know exactly who to call to begin the repair process. This can provide the kind of peace of mind that you deserve.
Remember - regular maintenance can save you money
Like with most things, regular maintenance on your home during the summer (and every other season) can help you save money in the long run. Please do yourself a favor and try to complete our summer home maintenance checklist. This is an excellent way to help your home function better for longer.
*The product being offered is a service contract and is separate and distinct from any product or service warranty which may be provided by the home builder or manufacturer.
The information in this blog library is intended to provide general guidance on home warranties, and on the proper maintenance and care of systems and appliances in the home. Not all of the topics mentioned are covered by our home warranty or maintenance plans. Please review your home warranty contract carefully to understand your coverage.
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