While you and your family may be gearing up to take an amazing summer vacation, you’ll likely be spending the rest of those sunny days at home.

Why not maximize your enjoyment by getting your home ready for summer?

You don’t have to spend all summer getting your home ready for summer – just follow these tips to easily prepare your home and yard for these awesome warmer months:

1. Take Care of Your Yard

When most of us think of summer, we think of spending time in our backyards enjoying the beautiful weather! The experience is far less enjoyable, however, if you don’t take care of your yard.

Yard care doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. You can easily maintain your landscape effectively and efficiently by doing things like:

• Using fertilizer to keep your grass green.
• Installing a drip irrigation system to keep your flowers watered.
• Planting drought-tolerant perennials in sunny areas.
• Planting shade-tolerant plants in shady areas.
• Take care of pooling water to avoid attracting bugs such as mosquitos.

2. Inspect Your Roof

Summertime is also a great time to start inspecting your home’s structure for winter damage, especially your roof. This gives you a chance to spot any minor problems that can be repaired before they become major issues.

Preventative home maintenance can save you time and money down the road.

Look for damaged shingles as well as for rust around the flashing (the metal pieces where the shingles meet your chimney). Also, inspect the caulk around pipes or skylights for cracks.

When inspecting your roof, remember to use the utmost care and do so safely. If you are hesitant to climb onto your roof, hire a professional.

3. Paint Your House

Warm, dry, and sunny days are the best time to paint your house! So if you’re considering changing up the look of your home’s exterior, now’s the time to do it.

Try to get on a fresh coat of paint early in the summer, where the days are hot but the nights are cooler to ensure the paint dries effectively.

When you do paint your house, start from top to bottom to avoid streaks. Also, make sure to cover any nearby vegetation, porches, decks, etc. to protect them from getting a new paint job too!

4. Replace the Air Conditioner Filters

If you live in a warmer climate, an air conditioning system is probably a must. But simply installing one isn’t enough to keep your home healthy and cool.

You need to make sure that your air conditioner filters are clean. They should be changed at least once every 90 days but, if you have a pet, you’ll want to change them every 60 days. If you have allergies, consider changing them once a month.

Not changing your air conditioner filters leads to two problems: First, the air quality in your home is going to plummet because the system will not be able to filter out dust, debris, and other allergens.

Second, if the system can’t properly pull air through the filter, it’s going to work overtime and run less efficiently (costing you more money to operate it). You definitely want your air conditioner working at top-notch capacity in the summertime.

5. Reseal Your Windows

When you run an air conditioning unit to keep your home cool in the summertime, you definitely want to make sure your windows are properly sealed.

The last thing you want is to lose that beautifully cold air through leaks and drafts around your windows.

Caulking your windows is best done in warm, dry weather. Use a high-quality, waterproof caulk to fill in gaps around your windows that are less than a ¼ inch.

6. Waterproof Your Deck

Wet spring and snowy winters can wear down the finish on a wooden outdoor deck. Be sure to test your deck’s water resistance by putting a few drops of water on your deck.

If the water droplets bead up, your deck is still good to go! However, if they absorb into the wood, your deck needs to be waterproofed again.

Waterproofing your deck protects it from moisture damage but also prevents issues such as rot and mildew.

Just like painting, the summer is a great time to do this because of the warm, dry weather. Make sure you give your deck a good clean and remove all of your furniture before applying a thin layer of UV-resistant waterproof sealant.

Remember to wear protective clothing and goggles since sealant is a chemical.

Ready for Summer?

We bet you are! And, when you follow these tips, your home will be ready as well!

How are you preparing your home for summer? Share your ideas in the comments below!