6 Essential Spring Home Maintenance Tasks To Do ASAP

The first day of spring has finally sprung. It’s time to throw open the windows, let in the fresh air, and revel in some sunshine.

Once that’s done—and stick with us here—spare some time for some easy home maintenance tasks.

Spring brings an hour of extra daylight, and you might now notice that all the ice, snow, and general wintry mix have given rise to small (but essential) home maintenance tasks you won’t want to skip this season.

We know, we know—fixing up the house is not as fun as frolicking among the flowers. Yet a few minutes of upkeep now will help save you hours of headaches down the line.

Here are the six biggies you should tackle now, either by yourself or by hiring a pro.

1. Inspect your home’s exterior and roof

No. 1 on any spring maintenance checklist is inspecting the outside of your home for any storm damage.

Depending on where you live (and what kind of home you have), it’s possible that your house took a beating during harsh, cold weather. Avoid nasty surprises—like a leaky roof—by giving everything a once-over now.

“It’s essential to inspect your home regularly for any potential damage,” says professional handyman Walter Bennett. “That includes checking the exterior and roof for water leaks, storm damage, or anything else that may need fixing.”

DIY route: If you feel comfortable climbing a ladder, you can easily inspect your home’s exterior.

Call in the pros: Are you concerned about climbing onto the roof? Find a local roofing company that can help.

2. Check for water leaks in the basement

What’s good for the outside of your home is also imperative for the inside’s darkest corners. It’s time to journey into the basement and look for water leaks or musty odors indicating moisture problems.

“Many homeowners neglect this important task, but it’s crucial to catch any potential problems early on to be fixed before they become more significant issues,” says Bennett.

DIY route: Start by inspecting the walls and floor for any signs of moisture or water stains. Check for dampness or puddles in corners and along the baseboards. Examine pipes, joints, and connections for signs of dripping or pooling water.

Call in the pros: If you find water you cannot quickly stop from entering your home, call in a pro. Unchecked water damage in the basement can lead to foundation issues.

3. Reseal driveways and paths

Driveways and paths are another vital part of our homes that degrade during the long winter months. These areas need to be resealed every few years to protect against inevitable corrosion.

Call in the pros: Resealing a driveway isn’t rocket science, but getting the job done well takes time and experience. We recommend calling in the pros to be sure your driveway doesn’t end up looking like a patchwork quilt.

4. Get your chimney cleaned

If you use anything that burns wood to keep you cozy during the chilliest time of the year, you should schedule to have it checked at the end of every season.

“Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves are beautiful additions to any home, but they need to be appropriately cleaned and maintained to function safely and correctly,” says Bennett. “A dirty fireplace can cause a dangerous creosote buildup, leading to a chimney fire.”

Buildup can also occur in wood-burning stoves and cause them to not function as efficiently. If you start to notice that there seems to be less oxygen flow within your stove, it might be time to call a chimney sweep.

Call in the pros: Unless you have the safety equipment to climb on your roof and clean the chimney safely, it’s best to leave this to the professionals.

5. Clear gutters and spouts

Neglecting all the organic material that built up in your gutters over the past few months could result in significant structural damage to your home—so it’s best to check them as soon as the snow’s gone.

“Maintaining rain gutters matters because they are the first and most important defense against water damage to homes,” says Kevin Leahy of The SpoutOff. “Gutters and downspouts must be checked and cleaned regularly to prevent clogging.”

Leahy recommends paying particular attention to the outlet (the hole in the gutter at the top of the downspout), where many clogs originate.

DIY route: If you can handle being on a ladder, you can tackle cleaning the gutters on a warm afternoon. Here’s how.

6. Spiff up the yard and garden

Spring is the time to clean up all the random bits and bobs that landed in your yard and garden from winter storms.

“Remove all debris from last year’s season: leaves, branches, and other yard waste,” says Bennett. “This will help prepare your yard and garden beds for healthy new growth.”

DIY route: Not sure where to start? Use this checklist to kick-start your spring gardening.

Read more at Realtor.com

Related Links

• First-Time Home Buyer Checklist: Have You Done Everything?

• 4 Tips To Make Your Strongest Offer on a Home

• ‘The Best of Both Worlds’: The Spring Housing Market Might Just Change Everything for Homebuyers and Sellers

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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How to have a green yard...without the grass!

It’s time to rip up your lawn and replace it with something you won’t need to mow

With low-maintenance ground cover, you probably won't need that lawnmower anymore.

While meticulously manicured grass lawns are a staple of modern neighborhoods, these plots of green come with many downsides. Principal among them is the need for regular mowing, a chore that primarily serves to stave off your neighbors’ disapproval by conforming to a dated suburban ideal.

You’re tired. We’re tired. It’s time to consider an attractive, low-maintenance alternative by replacing your lawn with ground cover plants that don’t require any mowing at all. Once these plants take hold, they can be irrigated much less frequently than lawns—maybe once every six weeks if it hasn’t rained. Many are also resistant to pests.

“It’s a joy not to have to mow and still have everything look green,” says Wendy Wilber, the statewide Master Gardener Volunteer Program coordinator at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. We agree—let’s get you started on your path to a better lower maintenance yard.

What to plant, based on where you live

Native plants are often your best choice for successful ground covers. If you have pets, you may also want to ensure your preferred plants don’t have seed heads that could attach to animals passing through. Here are some natives for planting in different geographic regions. The first three grow well in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and Texas in full or partial sun.

Powderpuff mimosa, or sunshine mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa), is a fast-growing 3- to 4-inch-tall plant with purple powderpuff flowers. It grows in Arkansas and the southern states listed above.

Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) grows 3 to 6 inches tall and has white flowers. Its broad range stretches from the southern half of the US to the tropics, including Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah.

Lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata) grows 1 to 2 feet tall with a rosette of leaves at its base. It has blue flowers and fragrant foliage like its culinary cousin. You can grow it in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast.

While not a native plant, perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata) is a popular ground cover. Since it hit US soil in 1936, it has not spread into native areas or become a nuisance plant, IFAS says. It reaches about 6 inches tall and has yellow, buttercup-like flowers. A fan of warm temperatures, it grows in full or partial sun throughout Florida and in the southern parts of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas.

[Related: Build a garden for native pollinators]

The next three native plants are suitable for installations in shade or partial shade and cooler climates.

Common wild ginger (Asarum canadense) can grow to 5 inches tall and has velvety heart-shaped leaves with hidden red-brown flowers. It is seen in more than 20 northern states.

Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is a ground-hugging plant with white flowers and edible fruit. It grows in every state.

Wild stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) has foliage that creeps along the ground and sends up 8-inch-tall spikes with white flowers. Find it in cool states from the Midwest to the Northeast.

These are just a few examples of good ground cover plants, and your choices are not limited to what you can find in nurseries. “Look around your area,” says Wilber. “If you see native plants you like that are growing well naturally, consider using them as a ground cover in your landscape.”

Breaking ground

The best time to start a lawn replacement is at the beginning of the growing season for your area. This will protect the new plants from being damaged or killed by cold weather.

[Related: The 160-year-old reason you’re obsessed with your lawn]

Choose an area where the grass is just something you look at rather than a place where people walk or play. The amount of sun or shade there will determine the ground cover you select, and the soil should be well drained—with more sand than clay.

Begin the process by removing your old grass, breaking up and removing its roots so it won’t reemerge. You can rent a machine called a sod cutter or dig it up with a shovel. Other removal options are covering the lawn with black plastic for four to six weeks to smother it (which takes much longer) or killing it with an herbicide (preferably one that’s environmentally friendly). If you use herbicide, it should be safe to plant your ground cover after three days, but make sure you check the label to be sure. Once the grass is gone, grade the soil to be sure it is level and not lumpy. This can be a laborious process, so there’s no shame in hiring a professional.

Installing your new ground cover

When it’s time to fill in the now-bare ground, it’s best to use mats of plants for full coverage, but this can be expensive. More commonly, individual plants are planted no farther than 12 inches apart. Mulch between the plants with pine straw to keep the soil moist, protect it from runoff, and suppress weeds, Wilber says.

For the first two months, water twice a week for 30 minutes. After that, water once a week for the next six months depending on how much it rains. Once the ground cover is established, these relatively drought-proof plants will thrive with normal rainfall. Assuming you have adequate irrigation, weed suppression, appropriate sunlight, and favorable growing temperatures, the plot should fill in within 12 to 18 months, Wilber says.

How to maintain ground cover plants

Once your ground cover is established, little maintenance is required. Fertilizer and pesticides will probably be unnecessary, as it will grow on its own and attract few pests. If there has been little rain and the plants look parched, water them, Wilber says.

[Related: Centuries-old ‘forest gardens’ still benefit ecosystems today]

While it is possible to mow ground cover, it is not necessary. Mowing should not be done on a new planting. If you wish to mow, wait until the ground cover has filled in and reached its full height or you will prevent it from putting down good roots. For more help with ground covers, contact your local county extension office, Wilber says.

The happy result

“Replacing grass lawns with ground cover is potentially a way to save water and reduce the cost of lawn maintenance while providing biodiversity in our landscape,” Wilber notes. “In many states, lawns are the largest crop grown. Ground covers are a good way to introduce native plants into the landscape by using them as a turf alternative in places where people won’t be walking or recreating.”

Now, instead of boring grass that has to be mowed, you have a lush yard brimming with flowering plants. Explore the options that work in your area and get ready to put your feet up once your ground cover gets growing.

Read Popular Science for more rad info like this!

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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The Most Common Springtime Plumbing Issues

Spring brings warm weather, sunshine and an abundance of flowers, but it also brings about a few unique plumbing problems.

While spring showers help your flowers and other plants to grow, rain can also cause plumbing issues. As the weather warms up, be on the lookout for these four springtime plumbing problems. Catching them early can save you a lot of headaches!

Leaky Plumbing

Cold winter temperatures can cause pipes to contract or freeze, which can cause tiny cracks. As the weather warms up, pipes begin to expand, causing any tiny cracks to also expand. Old pipes and outdoor plumbing are vulnerable to developing such cracks.

If you notice dripping pipes, standing water, a musty odor or a mysterious increase on your water bill, you could have leaky plumbing. Any leaking pipes must be fixed right away to prevent water damage and mold growth.

Low Water Pressure

Poor water pressure can be caused by a plumbing leak somewhere in your home. These can be hard to find, so you may need to contact a plumber to find them and fix them. It could be somewhere inside, or it could be leaking from the outside pipes that lead into the house.

Spring rainstorms can also cause low water pressure. Because rainwater is heavy and drenches the soil, that weight can put stress on your underground pipes, causing leaks which can lead to low water pressure inside your home.

Slow Draining Sinks and Backed Up Pipes

Just as spring rains can put pressure on your incoming outdoor pipes, the same is true for the pipes leading out towards the sewer. If heavy, rain-soaked soil puts too much pressure on an old or weak sewer pipe, it can result in backed-up sinks and toilets, as well as sewer water flooding your yard. The warmer weather also spurs plant growth, and tree roots can grow through a small crack in a drain line, causing a blockage. In either case, backed up pipes are a serious problem that need immediate attention from your local plumber.

Sump Pump Failure

Basement sump pumps typically don't run during the winter, because it's frozen outside in much of the country. However, once the weather warms up and spring rains flood your basement, you’ll need a working sump pump to clear water from this area. Early in the spring, have your sump pump checked to make sure it's working properly. That way, you can easily avoid a flooded basement.

Spring is just around the corner and now is the time to make sure your plumbing survived the winter and will give you consistent support through the warmer months to come!

Thanks to our partners at Housecall for this info.

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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How to Hire a Contractor in the Middle of a Pandemic

Looking to have work done on your house? A look at how to do it safely, and how COVID has changed the industry.

This year has brought about a lot of introspection, and it’s put one big aspect of our lives under the microscope in myriad ways: our homes. When you live, work, teach, exercise and exist 24/7 within the same four walls, you start to notice everything. You start to realize just how much your kitchen could use a facelift, the backyard that could be so much more with just a little effort, and the living room layout that could benefit from being just a tad more open. 

Because of this, many homeowners have started to invest significantly in their homes with renovations, remodels and upgrades, resulting in an increased demand for contractors. Online home remodeling platform Houzz has seen a 58% annual increase in project leads for home professionals, and Porch.com reported a 275% increase in interest for new decks. Jess Kennedy, co-founder and COO for home loan start-up Beeline says the contracting industry has been able to maintain stability despite COVID rocking many industries. In multiple states, home construction, including remodeling, has been classified as an essential service, even under stay-at-home orders, so in most cases, business is proceeding as usual. But of course for those of us doing the hiring, this doesn’t mean things like finding the right person for the job and scheduling that person have gotten any easier… If anything, the demand has made it more difficult.  And of course with COVID, people are much more cautious about who they bring into their homes. 

So how can you mitigate complications and find the right contractor for your particular job? Take a look at these words of wisdom from the experts. 

HAVE SOME PATIENCE

Kennedy says anyone hiring a contractor should expect and plan for plenty of hiccups along the way. Part of this is due to the uptick in current demand, but a lot of it is due to many contractors still playing catch-up from the spring. “When industries first ground to a halt, many current projects for contractors were put on hold. Now those projects will be back up and running, so your contractor could be booked up for some time,” she explains.

Also, because contracting requires a supply chain from multiple vendors to complete a project, you may also run into delivery delays in materials. To prepare for this likely scenario, Kennedy suggests making decisions early on with regard to finishes, appliances and other goods that must be ordered. This allows your contractor to set expectations accordingly or recommend alternatives to speed up the process. 

ASK FOR REFERENCES AND PAST WORK SAMPLES

When you start the process of selecting a contractor, it’s vital to think of it as a hiring process. You’re not going to find someone overnight. You’re onboarding someone to take on a major project in your home, so ask to see examples of their work, from start to finish. You’ll also need to confirm they have liability protection and only use licensed subcontractors and provide warranties for their work.Don’t be afraid to ask for this information right from the beginning of your conversations, says Carson Wright, the executive director of Manorly Concierge Home Management. “Hiring a professional company will be more advantageous in the long run. The cost to complete the project right the first time will always be a better deal than having to bring in another contractor to remediate shoddy work,” he stresses.

COME PREPARED WITH QUESTIONS

Negotiation is always part of the process of hiring a contractor, and in any negotiation, you’ve got to do your homework before you start discussions. By gaining an understanding of the market, the scope of work and the average cost in your zip code, it’s less likely you’ll be quoted an outrageous amount or otherwise be taken advantage of. Morgan recommends having a list of specific questions to demonstrate your confidence and knowledge, so you aren’t sold on things you don’t need.

Not sure what to ask? No worries. Principal, architect, contractor and designer at Cadiz Design-Build, Lorraine Francis provides these basic suggestions to begin:

• Can you share reviews from past clients?

• How long have you known your subcontractors?

• How many projects did you complete in 2019?

• What issues have you run into in the past, and how did you resolve them?

STAY SAFE: STAY DIGITAL AS LONG AS POSSIBLE

With the continued threat of COVID, you and your contractor should keep all communication and meetings digital for as long as you can. Obviously, you can’t redo a kitchen or build a back deck via Zoom (yet, anyway), but plenty of prep work can be completed virtually. Kennedy suggests sharing site plans over video so your contractor can get a good idea of the area, and you can point out specific changes and details. You can also send photos back and forth, discuss how much time will be spent at your home during the project, and so on. The less time you have to spend in close contact with one another, the better. 

Once you’ve reached the stage in the process where a contractor needs to visit your home to take measurements and start construction, take time to read the recommendations from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding having outside workers inside of your space. This detailed guide provides ways both the homeowner and the contractor can stay healthy and protected throughout the project. 

Kennedy says you should also feel empowered to ask your contractor about the screening precautions they’re exercising with workers and subcontractors. “Ensure temperature checks are happening before workers enter the home and clarify if there’s contact tracing being undertaken for all contractors on their previous site visits,” she continues. “Mask-wearing by both contractors and homeowners is highly recommended. Having extra face masks on hand in the home in case contractor’s masks become dirty or wet is a great idea to keep up safe work, too.”

WITH COVID, HAVE A PLAN B… AND C, AND D… 

Because of the unpredictable nature of, well, everything right now, there’s a high chance that a worker could test positive during your home improvement. In this case, you’ll need to know what steps your contractor is taking to isolate to prevent further spread. If the worst happens, find out if they plan to bring in additional workers, so that your work isn’t wholly derailed with a two-week quarantine. “Clarifying if there will be delays or alternative teams to step in is crucial to avoiding any mid-project stalls,” Francis says. 

MORE ON HERMONEY:

• Smart Strategies to Save on Homeowners Insurance

• 8 Home Maintenance Tasks To Do Every Year Or It’ll Cost You

SUBSCRIBE: Own your money, own your life. Subscribe to Her Mooney today to get the latest money news and tips!

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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21 easy home projects to tackle while you’re hunkered down

Level up your spaces without buying anything new

As most of the country heads back into Safer at Home or Stay at Home COVID levels, here are 21 easy projects you can do while social distancing at home. (Curbed)

Rearrange things for a fresh perspective

Renovating your entire living room or splurging on a new bedroom set might not be in the cards at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make some changes.

Try a new furniture layout: It’s easy to get in a rut with the same ol’ furniture setup, but what if you tried something new? Move the couch to a different wall, adjust where your armchair sits, or mix things up by swapping rugs from one room to another. Even switching a lamp from a side table to another spot in your house could brighten up a space in new ways.

Bring out the “special occasion” dinnerware: There’s no better time to add a bit of drama to your table, so bust out the china, special silverware, or fancy wine glasses. Now that we’re all eating at home, it’s the perfect chance to sip and savor at the dinner table using our favorite pieces. Want to share the fun with a few friends or family? Try hosting a virtual dinner party.

Restyle your bookshelves: Even avid readers don’t change up their bookshelves all that often, so now is the time to rethink them. If you’re focused on the literature, arrange your books by alphabetical order or by theme. If aesthetics are the priority, remember these three tips from designer Emily Henderson: Declutter, use neutral colors, and focus on a few standout pieces.

We know it can be challenging to feel stuck at home, but we’re here to help.

Cleaning projects

There’s a lot of talk about cleaning these days, and rightly so. But beyond disinfecting all of your high-touch surfaces, it’s also past time to buckle down on the tasks you avoid doing.

Clean your vents and baseboards: Heating and vent covers accumulate dust over time, and cleaning them can help reduce allergens in your home and increase the efficiency of your air conditioning or heating unit. Vacuum the vents with a dusting brush attachment or wipe with a dry microfiber cloth—avoid using water or other cleaning products, because they can smear the dust.

You can also unscrew the vent covers and place them in a sink filled with hot, soapy water. But don’t rub them too hard or paint may come off. And while you’re at it, turn your HVAC unit off and change the air filter on your furnace.

Go under your bed: Vacuuming and cleaning the toilets are usually on the weekly to-do list, but when was the last time you cleaned underneath your bed? Don’t wait until the next time you move to clear out the dirt—move the bed, empty out any storage boxes you might have underneath, and vacuum the dust. Plus: You might be surprised at the things you’ll find (hello, missing phone charger).

Clean out your bathroom drawers: This is another task we put off when we don’t have the time. Our bathroom drawers take a lot of daily abuse; after emptying the drawers you’ll likely find hair, spilled makeup, toothpaste, and so on. Once the insides are free of gunk, toss the junk and reorganize what’s left.

Organizing

Where to begin? There’s no shortage of home organization projects that can yield big results, but the options below won’t require a trip to the store. Of course, if you want to buy new storage solutions, we’ve got you covered there, too.

Tackle the closets: Face it: Even the most organized among us can have a messy closet, and now is the time to make it right. Start by taking everything out of the closet, purging what’s no longer used, and cleaning the interior. If it’s a clothes closet, sort your clothes by category and be sure to hang delicate items and stack thicker things like denim. Put your most-used items at the front, while seasonal or rarely used pieces can go up higher or in the back.

Tidy up the entryway: Whether you have a spacious mudroom or a tiny coat stand, things accumulate in our daily life. Reevaluate your hooks: Are they helpful? Hanging at the right height? Do you need more or fewer of them? Vacuum or shake out any door mats you have, then purge any knick knacks or unused items hanging around.

Label your supplies: A few labels can go a long way in creating a more organized household. Have storage bins or containers in your kitchen pantry, under the bed, or in a linen closet? A label maker works great if you have it, but you can also write on regular paper and tape the labels on.

Pay attention to your walls

Walls may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to home projects, but a few updates can make a big difference.

Straighten—or redo—your wall hangings: From photos to artwork to TVs, the items on our walls become crooked over time. Take a stroll through your house and straighten everything—you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes. Alternatively, take down all of your photos or artwork and make a new gallery, perhaps moving items to a new room to keep things fresh.

Touch up your paint: Many of us have a few cans of paint tucked away in our homes, from the last time we did a project or from when we moved in. Make sure it matches your current walls and then walk through the house and touch up the high-use areas, especially door frames, baseboards, and doors.

Put empty frames to use: Photo projects require a ton of time and energy to complete, which means they sometimes never make it off of your to-do list. Go through the house and add photos to any frames you’re not using; alternatively, you could also swap out older photos for new ones.

Evaluate your lighting

Lighting is one of the most important elements in design, and our homes can go from stark and unwelcoming to cozy and warm just by swapping out a few bulbs. Want to take the next step? Here are pro tips for improving your home’s lighting—without an electrician.

Replace bulbs: Have a few extra lightbulbs lying around? Go through the house and replace any that have gone out.

Clean your lamps: Sometimes the culprit to bad lighting isn’t a dead lightbulb, it’s dirt. Unplug lamps and clean the lampshades with a dry microfiber cloth or vacuum cleaner attachment. For other types of lamps, clean the bulbs and use a cloth to dust off the hardware. Note that you should always do this when the light bulbs are cool to the touch.

Clean your curtains: Clean curtains can make a room feel much brighter. Most drapery stores advise cleaning your curtains a few times each year, but it’s a task many of us neglect. First, look at your care instructions to determine whether you can wash your curtains or whether they have to be dry cleaned. Velvet drapes can be washed with a chamois cloth dipped in hot water, while silk curtains sometimes call for hand-washing. If you can machine-wash your curtains, use the gentle cycle, cool water, and mild detergent, and hang them to dry.

In the kitchen

The kitchen is another area of the home that benefits from special attention; we spend so much time cooking and eating that it can become disorganized quick. Beyond the regular duties of washing dishes or cleaning out the fridge, the tasks below will help your kitchen look better and function more smoothly.

Moisturize your wooden cutting boards: Remember that gorgeous wooden cutting board that you use as a cheese and charcuterie plate? When was the last time you moisturized it? In order to prevent warping or cracking, both wooden cutting boards and spoons should be oiled about once per month. Start by cleaning your boards and letting them dry. Then apply a food-grade oil like mineral oil or beeswax and let it soak in overnight.

Take stock of the essentials: Clean out your liquor cabinet or spice shelf and figure out what you have and what you might be missing. There’s no way to know if you have three bottles of cumin or a few versions of Cointreau until you take stock.

Finally clean your small appliances: Most of us probably clean out the refrigerator and wipe down the stove on a regular basis, but small appliances are often neglected. Hand-wash all of the removable parts of your coffee maker and run a few brewing cycles with distilled water. Empty out your toaster oven or toaster trap door and then shake the appliance over the sink to remove loose crumbs. Deep-clean your Instant Pot by wiping down the inner cooking chamber with a damp dishcloth; washing the silicone sealing ring in hot, soapy water; and running a cycle of water, distilled white vinegar, and a few lemon peels to remove odors.

In your yard

Clean up from autumn: If you have a small patio or balcony, grab a broom and sweep off the dirt, dust and fallen leaves of the past few months. Larger yards will need a bigger cleanup—start by getting rid of any leaves and pine cones that might have fallen during Fall storms, and then prune away dead or damaged branches. Now is also the time to clean up around your perennial plants or shrubs and remove damaged grass areas for spring seeding.

Prep your planters: Gather your empty planters—big and small—and clean them so they are ready for planting. Discard any that might have broken at the end of last season, then check for drainage holes.

Scrub your outdoor furniture: You’d be surprised how much dirt can accumulate on outdoor furniture, even if it’s been in storage. For wood and wicker furniture, use a mild oil-base soap like Murphy Oil mixed with warm water. Other types of furniture do fine with dishwashing liquid mixed in a large bucket of warm water, and many patio cushions can either be wiped down or thrown in the washing machine.

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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