Your 10-Point Home Improvement Checklist To Get Your Home Summer-Ready During The Springtime

Getting your home ready for the months between April and September can be a big challenge every year - sometimes, even overwhelming. Luckily, the home improvement experts at Kefauver Lumber True Value know all the ins and outs of this seemingly herculean task… which is why we’ve graciously prepared a 10-point checklist for you and your family to get your home ready for the hot summer months. Simply follow this checklist, and your home will be ready to enjoy during the hot and humid summer season in no time. So, let’s hop right in! We recommend printing out this 10-point checklist and use a Sharpie to check the boxes next to each home improvement task as you complete them. 

1. Mold-proof your entire house          🔲

From a health standpoint, mold-proofing your house in the springtime is the most important step on this checklist to make sure your family is safe and breathing clean air all summer long. Provided you have the right materials, this can actually be very easy and not particularly time-consuming. Concrobium makes a great antimicrobial spray that prevents the growth of mold that we sell right here at True Value. Already have some mold? No problem. We also sell plenty of products that will kill your mold with a simple spray and wipe, like our Jomax Mold Killer, which is safe to use indoors. But, you’ll want to grab some ASAP, because the humid weather in the spring and summer seasons will make your problems must worse very quickly. Stop in at Kefauver’s this afternoon so we can get these products ordered for you today. 

2. Clean your air ducts          🔲

While we’re on the subject of keeping the air in your home clean and safe, it’s pertinent that we mention getting your air ducts cleaned out. This can be a time-consuming process, especially if your have a large home with a lot of air ducts; and if this is the case, you may want to consider one of the thousands of companies in the U.S. that specialize and can quickly and inexpensively clean your ducts for you. But, you DIYers with a little bit of time on your hands may prefer to take care of this yourself. In that case, get your vacuum ready, you’ll need it. A good bit of the crud that cakes up in the ducts can simply be sucked out after being brushed off, but you’ll probably need to turn your vac up to its highest setting to be able to get all of it out. When you’re done, we recommend changing your air filter. Be careful not to damage your air ducts! This can be a costly fix. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, or you’re afraid you may damage something, we highly recommend hiring a company that specializes in air duct cleaning. 

3. Get your HVAC system tuned up          🔲

This is another one of the most important steps on this checklist, because a well-tuned HVAC system can save you a lot of money in the hot and humid summer months. Unfortunately though, this is one of the few steps on this list that the vast majority of you won’t be able to do yourself, even for the most experienced of DIYers. Luckily, most HVAC companies run specials during the springtime for an HVAC tuneup for $50 or less! We recommend taking advantage of these offerings, because they usually only last until the end of springtime. Your local HVAC technician will be way too busy during the summertime to offer this sort of deal, so get your tuneup scheduled today, and enjoy your discount on your summertime energy bill! 

4. Clean your gutters out          🔲

Don’t ignore this step! Too many people don’t clean out their gutters in the early spring, and suffer from a flooded basement in the summer. You don’t want to be one of these people! Even for the biggest homes, this step will only take a couple hours at most, and it’s easy for any DIYer. It’s virtually a one-step process: Grab a pair of protective work gloves and go! The most important part of this though is your safety. You’re going to need a solid, stable ladder, that isn’t rusty or bent! Don’t use and old ladder in poor condition - your safety depends on it, and you don’t want to end up a broken leg or rib (or worse!) right before your summer vacation! Luckily, we sell these right here at Kefauver’s! Personally, we recommend the good old-fashion 24 ft. fiber glass DeWalt, which is rated up to 300 lbs.. Stop in today and have us order one for you! 

5. Give your home a fresh coat of paint          🔲

Now here’s the fun part. Giving your home some fresh summer color is going to be the most rewarding and fun step on this checklist, and when you’re done, you’ll feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment as well as peace of mind that your home looks as good as it could be and is more valuable than it was before. Stop by Kefauver’s and take a look at our color samples. This will give you some ideas about which color schemes will look best in your home. Bright colors are great for the summer months! 

6. Clean out your outdoor grill          🔲

Summertime is BBQ season, and you’re going to want a clean grill. We sell a great product from Citrusafe that’ll get your grill sparkling before your next barbecue, which we can order for you quickly. If you feel like your grill is too old though, or is too small to accommodate all your guests at your next party, it may be time to upgrade. We have an enormous selection of grills in our True Value inventory, but we recommend the state-of-the-art Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill (which comes in three awesome colors!). We’ll help you get one ordered for your next party, and trust us, your friends will be endlessly jealous when they taste what you’ve cooked on this bad boy, and not to mention, your house will be the BBQ party location-of-choice amongst your social group!  

7. Put fresh weather-strips in your doors and windows          🔲

Making sure your home is sealed is the best way to keep your home cool during the spring and summer seasons, while also saving the most money (next to our advice in step #3, of course). Too many homeowners spend way more money cooling their home from April through September because they aren’t properly sealing their doors and windows, or the weather strips around their doors and windows are years old and are completely worn out. Luckily, here at Kefauver’s, we have a huge inventory of weather stripping for almost every application you can imagine. Most DIYers will be able to do this yourself, but if you’re unsure, almost any handyman will be able to do this step for you very inexpensively. 

8. Clean the outside of your windows          🔲 

This is a step everyone ignores every year and it’s sad, because a home looks so much better and more inviting with a clean set of windows from the outside! All the dirt and crud that covered your windows during the fall season needs to go! This is another step on this checklist that almost any DIYer can take care of quickly, provided they have a safe, stable ladder (and luckily, we already ordered you a safe one in step #4!). Besides that, you’ll just need some glass cleaner and a roll of paper towels, and you’ll be done this step in no time. 

9. Bug-proof your entire house          🔲

Probably the single-most important step on this checklist if you don’t want your home to turn into a giant ant colony, bug-proofing your house is actually a simple DIY home improvement task that shouldn’t take very long at all, provided you have the proper materials. When it comes to bug-proofing your home, there are two different materials and locations you’ll need to consider: The inside of your house, and your lawn, which will require two different types of bug-proofing solutions. It’s imperative that you pick the right ones though, especially for those of you who are pet-owners. We always want to make sure our four-legged friends are safe, so we carry pet-safe bug repellant, for both indoors and outdoors. For inside your home, we recommend the pet-friendly ecoSmart Home Pest Control, which comes in a 64 oz. pump spray container and is very easy to use, and is completely non-toxic so you’ll have complete peace of mind once you’re home is bug-proof. For your yard though, we recommend a different product, Sentry’s Yard & Kennel Flea and Tick Spray, which works to repel and kill a vast myriad of insect pests but is also safe for pets.  

10. Prepare your lawn          🔲

We did a full write-up last month that outlines and details all the steps you’ll need to follow to get your lawn ready for the spring and summer months. If you haven’t read it yet, you can do so here. Follow these steps to the T, and you’ll have the most beautiful lawn on your block all spring and summer long, and your neighbors will be very jealous. A beautiful lawn is the single-most noticeable part of your home during the spring and summer months (from the outside, anyway). Take your time here and do it right - provided you follow our steps correctly, you’ll be thrilled with the outcome and you’ll have the most beautiful lawn on your block all summer long. 

And there you have it: your simple, 10-point home improvement checklist that will have your home summer-ready in no time! Please don’t worry if any of these tasks seem daunting, difficult, or unmanageable, because Kefauver Lumber True Value is just a phone call away! Our home improvement experts are masters of the craft, and we’ll be able to offer you advice and get any necessary materials ordered for you. Good luck and enjoy your summer!