Hello Spring in Houston! Time to focus on Exterior Maintenance

Hello Spring in Houston! Time to focus on Exterior Maintenance

Spring is a great time to focus on the exterior of your home…

Spring in Houston is HERE!  This season is a great time to check out the wear and tear on your home from the outside elements. Wind, humidity, rain, and sun can cause damage over a period of time if left unchecked.

My BEST advice to keeping your home at TOP market value is to have a regular maintenance schedule that includes the exterior of your home and your yard.

By keeping up with these seasonal tasks, you can avoid some costly repair bills from damage that could have been prevented. A well-cared for property will better retain its value and attract buyers when it comes time to sell.

Check out my list of exterior and yard maintenance to focus on over the next few weeks.  Some of these are DIY tasks and some are worth hiring a professional…for example If you don’t have a power washer, I have a great very reasonable contact, and this job will make a HUGE difference!  Read on for more on that and a few other to-do’s for the Spring.

Spring (Early March – Early June) Exterior Maintenance

Once spring arrives examine your yard and home’s exterior to see how everything looks and for any winter damage. As the weather warms up, you can catch up on certain outside tasks and prep your home before the summer starts to heat up. The spring can bring some heavy rains, so stay on top of tasks that can prevent water damage or drainage issues.

Remove debris such as dead foliage and fallen branches and twigs that may be scattered in your yard. Clear out any growth or brush you don’t want.  A good lawn fertilizer will help cut that unwanted clover growth and encourage a fresh, green healthy grass to grow.

Check on exterior drainage systems and consider improvements to get ready for spring’s rainy season. To prevent costly water damage to your home, now is the time to make sure all of your drainage systems are operating properly and that they move water away from your home. Consider getting downspout extenders for gutters, having your landscaping slope away from your home’s foundation, or installing storm drains in your yard or even a French drain system.

Remove leaves and debris from all area drains, gutters, and window wells. Always give your gutters a once over when it’s raining heavily to see if they are clogged and overflowing and hire a professional if needed. You may have to clean your gutters several times depending on your yard. Again, you want to prevent water damage to your home.

Get your garden tools and supplies cleaned, sharpened and restocked. Remove rust and seal blades for pruning shears, hedge clippers, trowels, etc. Clean and restock garden pots, gloves, kneepads, watering cans. Don’t forget to get gas for your lawnmower.  Purge and organize your garden shed to get rid of what you don’t need or use anymore and then arrange the space for easy access and a more orderly set up.

Clean and prepare your patio or deck and any outdoor furniture or planters. Consider power washing to get rid of grime on some items that can withstand the pressure. Depends on what material you may have from pavers, concrete, slate etc. Or, give everything a good deep cleaning so the rest of the year, you can do a periodic wipe down.

Clean the exterior siding of your home or schedule a paint job if that is needed.  Depending on the siding’s material, you could get it power washed by a professional or rent the equipment.

Wait for pollen season to be over before you tackle windows/screens and even screen porches. If your yard gets a layer of yellow pollen, then schedule a good washing later in the season.  You can wash your screens and windows yourself or find a reliable professional to get the job done each year.

Get your grill cleaned and repaired now. Scrub the grates with liquid cleaner, and wash the burners and covers if you have them. Don’t forget to get the tank filled if you have a gas grill, or stock up on charcoal for other grills.

Little critters start to come out in the warmer weather so hire a pest service that can help you deal with ants, rats, spiders, or mice. Make sure your garbage is securely closed; and clean up any areas with debris that create an inviting home for critters.

Winter weather can be harsh on driveways and sidewalks. Repair cracks whether you have concrete or asphalt. Sealing or resurfacing can give a driveway a bright lift. If you have pavers, make sure you know how to clean and re-sand or hire a professional.

Order your mulch in the early spring so your yard will look clean and crisp in the coming weeks.

Hope this list is helpful and snap a pic and send it over ~ I love to see the fruit of your hard work!