The weather is warming up, and the days are getting longer, which can only mean one thing, summer is just around the corner!
So, if you’re thinking about selling this spring/summer season or you want to make the most out of your outdoor spaces, here some essential tips and tricks you can use to get your home summer-ready!
Clean the walkway
If you have a stone walkway leading up to your front door, we recommend power washing it to remove any dirt or salt build-up over the winter and then replace the damaged stone or bricks (or just flipping them over). If any stones or bricks are sticking up too high, take them out, remove a little dirt, and then drop them back in place. On concrete walkways, you can fill in cracks with a masonry crack filler that matches the colour of your concrete.
Give your front door some TLC
Your front door can take a battering throughout the winter months from snow, ice, and wind, so give it a dust and clean it with a mix of water and gentle dish soap. If your door is looking tired even after washing it, consider giving it a lick of paint to freshen it up. Lastly, probe the weather stripping around the door with a screwdriver and caulk any post-winter gaps before tightening hinges that may have come loose due to shifts in temperature.
Wash your windows
Dirty windows can impact the curb appeal of your home, so as soon as the weather allows, we recommend filling up two buckets, one with 1 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of ammonia, and 1 gallon of hot water; the other with warm water, and washing the windows with the vinegar-ammonia solution first, then with water only. Dry with a squeegee.
Tidy up your flower beds and fill in the grass
Maintaining your grass and gardens is essential to making your home look pristine. We recommend clearing out any weeds and using a spade to redefine the edges of your flower beds until the top couple of inches are tightly packed. Then apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch to finish it off.
Next, move on to your lawn, remove any leaves and twigs and dethatch dead grass with a metal rake. Ask for help choosing the right seed at a garden centre, then apply it to bald patches or anywhere you want a thicker lawn.
Clear out the gutters and inspect your roof
Keeping an eye on your gutters and roof as we move from winter to spring/summer is crucial as any issues left untouched could cause serious water damage to your home. We recommend cleaning leaves and debris from your gutters, and the next time it rains, standing outside and looking for breaks or leaks in your gutters and downspouts.
Lastly, look at your roof from across the street and specifically lookout for any curling, cracking, or missing shingles. Also, look out for damaged metal flashing around the chimney, pipes, and skylights. If you find any damages, be sure to get in touch with a roofer as soon as possible.
Clean your deck
The final step is cleaning your deck! Blast away all of the cobwebs and dust from the winter months using a deck brush or power washer plus a deck-cleaning solution to remove mould, dirt, and mildew. If the finish is worn after cleaning it, let the wood dry for a few days, and then reseal it.
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I hope that you found this blog helpful and informative. If you have any questions about preparing your home for sale, please feel free to reach out by clicking here! I can answer all your questions and concerns and make the whole process as stress-free as possible.
