A new season is upon us! Spring brings lovely mild weather, greenery and flowers.With the change of season and temperature, there are some necessary property maintenance tasks which shouldn’t be ignored. We’ve outlined our Spring Cleaning Checklist to make sure nothing is missed and your property is covered. 

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1. Clean gutters and downspouts

Spring means trees are sprouting and while it may look beautiful, depending on the proximity of trees to your home, your gutters and downspouts may get clogged with leaves, twigs and/or acorns. All of these can be damaging to gutters and downspouts. Make sure you take the time to clear out both. Failing to do so may lead to costly repairs and re-installations that can quickly climb up to hundreds of dollars. If your gutters are not easily accessible to you via ladder, or you do not want to risk doing the work yourself, consider hiring professionals.

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2. Check windows inside and out

The cold weather can cause cracks or harden the caulk around your windows and doors. Inspect the seals on all windows and doors and replace them as required. This will help prevent water from getting in and help reduce your energy bill. This is also a great time to consider washing all of your windows, inside and out. If you're unable to reach all the windows in your house, consider hiring a professionals to do this. Most gutter cleaning companies will also provide these services and provide you a better price if you combine the services.

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3. Open outdoor hose valves

Open your outdoor hose bibs and inspect them for any possible freeze damage that may have incurred in the winter months. If you don't have a shut off valve for your outdoor hose bib(s), be sure to check inside the house (in the area where the water valve connects) after you've turned them on, and be sure there is no indication of water leaks.

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4. Air conditioning system servicing

Spring is the perfect time to make sure your air conditioner or central air unit is working efficiently and ready for the summer. Before you turn your unit back on after months of inactivity, it's smart to check to make sure everything is in order. Check all the connections, look for any leaks, change the filter, and if necessary, have it serviced. It is generally recommended to have a professional complete routine annual maintenance on your unit(s).

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5. Look out for leaks and signs of mold

With the drastic fluctuation in temperature and humidity between the winter months and the onset of spring, your home becomes vulnerable to leaks, mould and mildew.  Looking for leaks and mould in all areas of your home is important. Take the time to inspect all windows, doors, bathrooms, and other areas where water damage could occur. Address these issues immediately. Get serious about cleaning every corner of your house and don’t ignore critical areas such as the kitchen backsplash and underneath the bathroom sink. If you have a large amount of it, contact a remediation company to dispose of it properly.

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6. Inspect the basement

We all know that the basement is prone to issues, especially after the seasons change. Check for cracks in the cement walls and look for signs of leaks. While you are down there, it’s also a good idea to check your sump pump if you have one, look for any signs of pests, and finally, as mentioned above, inspect the all windows for mould and/or leaks.

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7. Check roof for damage

Without inches of snow pile up atop your roof, spring is the ideal time to check up on whether any roof shingles are lost or dislodged. Have a look if you're able and see if there are any signs of damage. If you notice anything, consider hiring a professional immediately to repair.

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8. Inspect your property for winter damage

Do a walk around of your property. Examine your patios, decks, walkways and windows for any possible structural or aesthetic damages, such as cracks, chips, rotting, loose boarding and faded paint. Replace/repair damaged areas, consider any necessary repainting, thoroughly wash the decks and walkways as needed. This is also a good time to check any window and doorway insect screens for tears as the bugs are just around corner!
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9. Lawn maintenance

Now is the time to take the steps to start bringing your lawn back to life. Consider taking the appropriate steps to do so, such as aeration and fertilizing. Also, watch for weeds popping up. If you don’t remove them right away they’ll spread over your property faster than wildfire!

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10. Check outdoor equipment

After being left to wallow in your garage, lawn equipment may have run out of battery or faced some unbeknownst damages. Do a quick check of your equipment to make sure everything is still in working condition before you get your hands dirty mowing the yard!

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Not really a DIY-er or not sure where to start? Feel free to send us an email for a complimentary property assessment and we can put together a customized maintenance list specific to your property. We can also suggest some tried and tested professionals that we routinely work with to get the jobs done!