So, you’ve finished the spring cleaning and packed away all your winter gear. Now you’re ready for summer to begin! But before you sit back and relax, there are a few things you should do to prepare your home and property for the warm weather. 
In order to fully enjoy the summer season, it’s important to take care of a few maintenance and preventative tasks before they become real issues. Taking the time to inspect and repair the areas of your home that work hard all summer will ensure you don’t get stuck with a mid-summer meltdown.
Test the Air Conditioner
There’s nothing worse than turning on your air conditioner on the first sweltering day of the year only to discover that it’s not working. Don’t wait until it’s too late and you’re left melting for weeks until a technician can arrive. Power up and test your AC before you need it to ensure you stay cool this summer.
Inspect Irrigation Systems
Winter can be tough on outdoor plumbing and sprinkler systems. After months of being buried under snow and ice, hoses, pipes, and nozzles can become damaged. Turn on outdoor faucets and verify that water is flowing freely. Check hoses for cracks and tears and perform a leak test on all your outdoor water sources.
If you have an in-ground irrigation system, contact your maintenance company for a seasonal check-up. They will ensure that valves and sprinkler heads are functioning properly, and that no water loss is occurring.
Check the Attic
A lot can go wrong in the attic over the winter. If left unchecked, problems such as rodents and leaks can result in serious damages. Make a trip up there before it gets too hot and look for pooling water or mold which can indicate a leak or poor ventilation.
Animals sometimes find their way into the attic to avoid the winter cold. Check for nests or debris and contact a professional to have them removed if there are signs they are still visiting the attic. Once you’re sure the animals are gone, patch any holes where they might be entering.
Prepare Your Outdoor Gear
Chances are summer gear such as patio furniture, gardening tools, and outdoor cooking accessories all got quickly stashed away when the weather turned cold. Now is the time to take everything out, clean it and test it to make sure it’s working properly. You should also adjust timers on outdoor lights and sprinkler systems to accommodate for longer days and warmer weather.
Check the Deck and Patio
Snow and ice can take their toll on hardscaping materials. Freezing temperatures can cause masonry to crack and mortar to crumble. And heavy snow and ice can damage wooden structures such as stairs and decks. Examine the deck and patio for loose boards, cracked pavers, and dislodged patio stones which can pose a safety hazard.
Check the Deck and Patio
Snow and ice can take their toll on hardscaping materials. Freezing temperatures can cause masonry to crack and mortar to crumble. And heavy snow and ice can damage wooden structures such as stairs and decks. Examine the deck and patio for loose boards, cracked pavers, and dislodged patio stones which can pose a safety hazard.
Fix Up Your Outdoor Spaces
One of the best things about summer is getting outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. Updating your backyard to include functional outdoor living spaces will help you make the most of your time outdoors.
Simple changes like adding hedges to increase privacy and investing in comfortable outdoor furniture can transform your backyard into an outdoor living room. Make it even more enjoyable by adding a fire feature and outdoor lighting for beautiful nighttime ambiance.
Get creative with plants. No matter how much space you have, some cheerful flowers and low maintenance herb pots will bring life to your outdoor space.