Spring is here! The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and homeowners everywhere are rolling up their sleeves to do some routine post-winter work. Whether you’re a seasoned homeowner with years of spring maintenance under your belt, or a brand-new homeowner, the list of tasks can seem daunting. Here’s your ultimate checklist to make sure your home is ready for the warmer months.

Tasks to Tackle Indoors

• Change your HVAC filters.
• Inspect your window screens for damage and give them a thorough cleaning. Plus, checking for tears or holes now means you can get them fixed before bugs start swarming.
• While you’re at it, give your windows a thorough scrubbing, too. Getting rid of the grime will make your view a lot more appealing and let even more sunshine into your home.
• Got a working fireplace? Now’s the time to clean it! Be sure to put down a tarp to protect your floors, furniture, and walls before diving in. (Note: Hire a professional to clean your fireplace chimney – don’t attempt this yourself.)
• Carefully inspect your basement, attic, and crawl spaces for moisture and mold.
• Schedule a professional air-conditioning service to make sure your system is in tip-top shape before the hot summer days are here.
• Check your sump pump to make sure it’s in good working order before the rainy season.

Let’s Head Outdoors for these Exterior Tasks

• Check your gutters and downspouts for leaves, sticks, and other debris, and clear them out.
• Check the caulking around doors and windows. Replace if you notice any damage or wear.
• Clear leaves, sticks, and other debris from your window wells.
• Carefully inspect any outdoor structures you have, including wooden decks, railings, windowsills, and steps for rot. If you find any, plan to replace them as soon as possible to prevent further damage. Regularly staining and resealing these structures can help them last longer.
• Get rid of any stagnant water to prevent accidentally breeding mosquitos as the weather warms up.
• Take a look at your roof. Look for missing shingles, damage to metal pipes, or anything else that just doesn’t look right.
• Check driveway and paths for cracks or other damage that might have been caused by water over the winter. Patch or repair the asphalt, concrete, or other hardscaping materials as needed.
• Check your sprinkler and irrigation systems. Run the system and look for damaged heads or areas where water is spraying toward the house.
• Get Ready for Some Yard Work
• Trim back trees and shrubs (or hire a professional) to prevent damage to your house.
• Sweep, shovel, or rake your driveway, walking paths, and decks. If gravel, mulch, or sand was moved, sweep it back into place.
• After cleaning all those hardscaped surfaces, it’s time to pressure wash them! You can also pressure-wash wooden decks, railing, and outdoor furniture.
• Aerating your lawn helps refresh it after the winter. The best time to do this is after the rainy season in spring, before it gets too hot.
• Clean up your flower beds. Remove debris, dead branches, leaves, then prepare the beds for planting new buds or making room for perennials to return.
• If you have permanent structures like benches, planters, or fountains, make sure you thoroughly clean them and give them a fresh coat of paint if applicable.
• Inspect your fence – it might need some work. Replace wobbly posts, check for rotted areas that will need to be replaced, and then finish with a fresh coat of paint.

Wait until it is safe to remove holiday decorations.

With wind, rain, and other vagaries of nature in the forecast, winter weather can make it hazardous to take down and hang up holiday lights and decorations. Before removing outdoor lights, inflatables, and other heavy decorations, keep an eye on the weather conditions, and make sure to plan the task for a nice day. Remember to place your ladder on a dry, even surface, or consider using a utility pole with a hook extension to reach high-hanging lights and decorations.

Protect entryway flooring.

Entryway floors can really take a beating in the winter. Increase the longevity of your flooring by using floor mats both inside and outside each entrance to your home. Provide a boot scraper or brush outside for removing excess dirt and slush, and a waterproof tray inside for placing wet shoes and boots. Maintain this for at least a month post winter.

Getting your house ready for the spring and summer takes some work. But doing all these tasks now make sure your home is protected from the elements, is in good working order for the warm months, and will last a long time.