Your Home Survived Winter—Now What?

Winter’s done throwing punches. Your house made it through the fight—hopefully.

Before you start daydreaming about backyard barbecues and hammock naps, let’s talk about the grown-up version of spring cleaning. It’s time to tune up your biggest investment: your home. Ignore it, and you could be handing over a chunk of change later. Here’s a checklist that doesn’t suck (and might just save you from a mid-summer meltdown).

Inspect the Roof (Because Out of Sight = Out of Mind... Until It Leaks)
Grab the binoculars—or climb up there if you’re feeling brave and spry. Look for missing shingles, cracked flashing, and moss colonies staking their claim. Sagging areas? Red flag. Catching these early can stop water damage, insulation rot, and sky-high repair bills before they start. Bonus points if you clear any leftover branches or debris while you’re up there.

Clean Out the Gutters (Yes, Again. Sorry.)
Those gutters are the unsung heroes of your house. Left clogged, they’ll send rainwater straight to your foundation, siding, or basement. Scoop out the gunk (gloves highly recommended), flush the downspouts with a hose, and double-check that water is flowing away from the house like it’s supposed to. No standing water = no mosquito breeding ground. Win-win.

Check Windows & Doors (Energy Vampires Love a Draft)
Feel a breeze where there shouldn’t be one? Time to inspect your weather stripping and seals. Look for cracks, gaps, or anything crumbling under your finger. Replace worn-out stripping, and consider caulking any stubborn gaps. This keeps your AC inside where it belongs—and the bugs, dust, and humidity out. Bonus: You’ll notice a difference on your energy bill.

Deck & Patio TLC (Splinters Are Not a Summer Look)
Break out the pressure washer and blast off the grime. After it dries, inspect boards for rot, warping, or loose nails that could trip up your summer plans. If it’s looking dry and thirsty, reseal it. A well-maintained deck not only looks better but lasts longer—and gives you a splinter-free zone for those sunset beers.

HVAC Reality Check (You’ll Miss It When It’s Gone)
Don’t wait until it’s 95 degrees and you’re sweating into your couch. Change your filters (yes, even if you “just did it”), clear any debris from outdoor units, and schedule a professional tune-up. Trust me, an HVAC tech in March is a lot easier to book than one in July. Your future self will thank you.

Exterior Paint Touch-Ups (Curb Appeal Matters—and So Does Protection)
Take a slow walk around your house and inspect the siding and paint. Peeling paint, cracked siding, or gaps are more than cosmetic—they’re open invites for moisture, rot, and critters. Scrape, patch, and repaint as needed to keep your home sealed up tight and looking sharp. If your siding’s looking rough all over, power washing might not cut it—might be time for a more serious facelift.

Foundation Check (The Silent Crisis Lurking Below)
Look at the base of your house—inside and out—for cracks, crumbling mortar, or signs of shifting. Tiny hairline cracks? Keep an eye on them. Bigger gaps or water pooling near the foundation? That’s a call to action. Water is your foundation’s worst enemy, and early fixes are always cheaper than structural repairs down the line.

Landscaping Tune-Up (The Jungle Isn’t Coming Back—And That’s a Good Thing)
Trim branches hanging over your roof or too close to windows (think: storm damage prevention). Pull weeds, clear dead plants, and reseed bare patches in your lawn. Overgrown shrubs can trap moisture against your siding and create cozy homes for pests, so give them a solid haircut. Clean, open landscaping isn’t just pretty—it’s practical.

Power Wash the Exterior (Because Grime Isn’t a Neutral Color)
Dirt, mildew, and algae have had all winter to settle in. Time to evict them. A good power wash can restore your siding, driveway, and walkways to something resembling their original color—and it’s a whole lot cheaper than repainting or resurfacing. Plus, it’s weirdly satisfying. Just don’t go too hard and damage your surfaces.

Test Safety Devices (Because You Like Breathing—and Sleeping Easy)
Smoke detectors, CO2 alarms, and fire extinguishers: give them all a once-over. Replace batteries, test alarms, and make sure extinguishers are charged and not expired (yep, they expire). If you can’t remember when you last did this, you definitely need to do it now. This is basic adulting—get it done.

Bottom Line
Your home got you through winter—snow, rain, wind, and whatever else Mother Nature threw its way. Now it’s your turn to return the favor. Spend a weekend tackling these tasks, and you’re not just “spring cleaning”—you’re protecting one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. Skip it, and you might find yourself shelling out serious cash for things you could’ve fixed with a free afternoon and a decent playlist.

A little prevention now beats emergency repairs later—every time. So grab your tool belt (or at least your to-do list), knock out the maintenance, and reward yourself with that backyard beer. You’ll have earned it—and your house will thank you by not falling apart mid-summer.