MAY HOME MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

Welcome to spring in Richmond Virginia!  As the last traces of pollen drift away, it's time to look forward to the summer!  And May is the perfect time to begin doing the things that you need to do welcome the summer!  To help you make the most of this time, here's a list of essential home maintenance tasks to consider tackling this month!

GET THE GRILL READY

One of the best ways to enjoy the summer is grilling the hot dogs and burgers!  But no one wants their burger or hot dog with last year's gunk on it!  So make sure your grill is ready to handle the summer - cleaning it now will ensure that there are no flare-ups and that it will work efficiently!

WASH EXTERIOR WINDOWS & REPAIR SCREENS

As the flowers come into bloom and your yard starts to green up, you want to make sure you can see it through the windows.  Washing winter grime and dirt from the windows and repairing any small holes in the screens will let you see your yard in all it's glory this spring and fall!

CLEAN THE EXTERIOR

Now that the pollen has dropped off, it is the perfect time to power wash your house - make sure you remove any spider webs on the house, cut back shrubbery that may be growing too close to the siding and touch up any bare paint spots on your wood siding!

CLEAN THE GUTTERS

Cleaning your gutters is so important to make sure that there is no damage to your house!  Water is not the only thing that can collect in your gutters - leaves, debris, shingle grit, even animals can get stuck in the gutters - which then can cause them to clog - and that will prevent water from flowing away from the roof and house!

MAKE SURE THE OUTDOOR LIGHTS ARE WORKING

This includes not only the front porch lights but also any back porch lights as well as any motion sensing security lights.  Replace bulbs as needed and have any lights repaired or replaced!

TEST SMOKE & CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

According to the US Fire Administration, smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years, even if they appear to be working!  Test the smoke and carbon detectors and replace batteries if needed!  And while you are at it, check the expiration date on your fire extinguishers and replace those as needed!

CLEAN ITEMS ON ANY OPEN SHELVING INSIDE THE HOUSE

If you are like me, I have things on open shelves throughout my house that I rarely ever touch!  This month, why not go ahead and make sure they are free of dust!

CLEAN THE LAUNDRY ROOM

This room can use a deep clean - wiping down the shelves, cleaning the washing machine and restocking any needed supplies.

MAKE THE PORCH A RELAXING SPOT

One of my favorite things to do in the spring and summer is to sit on my back screen porch and read a book, or even grill out and eat on the porch!  So why not make sure your porch (front and back) are ready for summer enjoyment - whether it is reading a book, grilling, or having friends and family over for those summer barbecues!  Make sure it is clean and add a relaxing feature if you want!

CHECK THE ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN YOUR HOUSE

May is National Electrical Safety Month and what better time to go around the house and make sure that your house is safe!  Look for damaged cords and cables and replace as needed.  Check the power strips and replace any extension cords as needed!

TOUCH UP FENCES & PATHWAYS    

Many walkways and pathways outside may have buckled up due to freezing temperatures this winter.  Make sure they are repaired before they become a major issue!  And while you are at it, why not make sure you don't have any major tripping hazards!  And look at the fences & gates - power wash or paint as needed and repair as needed!

HAVE YOUR HVAC SERVICED

Make sure your air conditioner is properly working!  The last thing you want this summer is to have your central air stop working in the middle of July when it is 100 degrees out and 100% humidity!  It is best to call in a reputable HVAC company to do this and make any repairs as needed!

INSPECT THE HOUSE FOR TERMITES

Termites are a big issue in the Richmond area!  So call in the local termite company and have them inspect the house for termites!  Termites can cause a lot of damage, much of which you won't see until it is too late!

MAINTAIN YOUR LAWN MOWER

Make sure your lawn mower is in good condition!  Change the oil, replace the air filter, replace the spark plug, sharpen or replace the blade.  You want to make sure that the lawn mower is running smoothly and cutting cleanly, before mowing season gets into full swing!

FEED YOUR LAWN

There is nothing so pretty as a full, lush, green lawn - especially after coming out of the winter where the grass was brown and flowers and trees were not in bloom!  Depending on the type of grass you have, you may want to go in and do a spring fertilizing of the lawn in order encourage healthy growth in your yard and discourage weeds!

I hope this checklist helps in getting your home ready for the summer season!  Doing these things now will help ensure you have a wonderful space where you can entertain friends and family!  And, as always, if you are thinking of selling your home this spring, don't hesitate to contact me!  Happy Spring!