Spring Cleaning Exterior Home Addition  

Spring Cleaning Exterior To Do’s  

Spring in Houston begs for us to be outside! And what better way to spend your time outdoors than investing some elbow grease into your home.

Here’s my exterior “spring cleaning” list to keep your home in its best shape so that you can fully enjoy your home and yard on those gorgeous days of spring.

Remember that the time you spend on regular maintenance will help preserve the value of your home and will help prevent everyday “wear and tear” from turning into costly damage…and that is how you make SMART REAL ESTATE DECISIONS each and every month, season and year.

Get Ready for April Showers

The rainy season is upon us, so make sure your home and yard is ready for it!

• Doorways. Make sure you’ve got inside and outside door mats for wiping wet shoes. Switch them to a fun spring pattern if you have ones from winter. Get an umbrella stand or tub for easy in-and-out access.
• Gutters. Double check your home’s gutters, French drain system or downspouts to make sure they are clog-free, and water is moving away from your home’s foundation. Fix any broken or loose gutters from winter storms — rainwater that pools can really damage roofs, ceilings, attics, and walls!
• Drainage. Observe your lawn during a rainstorm so you’re ready to address any drainage issues. Hire a contractor/landscaper to examine any problems with standing water or lack of adequate draining. You’ll have a better idea of the cause and consequences (basement flooding) of poor drainage. Proper grading, a French drain system or curtain drain may be needed. If you entire street has problems, you can always address city hall if it’s municipal issue.

The Great Outdoors

Give your yard and exterior of your home a good examination to see how everything looks and for any winter damage.

• Cleanup. Take the time to remove debris such dead foliage and fallen branches and twigs that may be scattered in your yard. Clear out any growth or brush you don’t want. Be gentle raking and walking on your lawn at this time since new grass shoots will start to peek through.
• Garden Supplies. 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.
• Patio. 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.
• Grill. 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. You want it all set up for that favorite BBQ recipe!
• Pests. 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.
• Driveway. 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.
• Flower garden. You can begin to plant summer bulbs, annuals, and perennials for beds and planters.  Come up with a plan so you purchase only what you need and what works for the soil and sunlight in your yard. Cool spring weather is good for pansies in containers. Order your mulch so your yard will look “clean and crisp” in the coming weeks.
• Trees and shrubs. Your yard is most likely showing signs of spring now. Once growth or buds sprouts, you can fertilize and prune certain plants. You can transplant trees before they leaf out. Prune trees and shrubs that have any damage from the winter. You can’t prune some shrubs such as azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons until after they bloom. You can prune nonflowering trees and shrubs.

Let me know if you have any questions on maintaining your home. Reach out to me if I can recommend  a contractor who can help you with any of these tasks.  I’d love to help you get theses items done so you can avoid costly damage or long-lasting problems done the line.