Preparing Your Home For Summer

Summer time means barbeques and bonfires, pool parties and play dates.  With all the fun to be had, it is easy to forget those pesky home preparation tasks.  Get your summer chores out of the way with these simple step for preparing for guests:Cool Down: Make sure that your house is ready to act as a cool reprieve on a hot day.  Begin by having your AC checked as part of regular maintenance.  Your inspection should include checking thermostats and controls, checking the refrigerant level, tightening connections, lubricating any moving parts, checking the condensate drain, and cleaning the coils and blower.Help circulate that cool air with the use of energy-efficient ceiling fans.  If your home already sports some, dust them off to avoid flying dust bunnies and check to make sure that your blades are in balance.  Set the fan blades to revolve counterclockwise to force the hot air near the ceiling to mix with the lower, cooler air to help level out the room temperature.  If you are lacking this amenity, now is a great time to install one! Freshen Your Exterior: Welcome your guests with a shiny exterior.  Summertime is the perfect time of year to wash the outside of your windows and clean the siding.  Pass on the pressure washer and opt instead for a garden hose – the best to avoid potentially damaging the exterior of your home.  Don’t forget to include your patio furniture and exterior seating in your cleaning plans.  Check out this site for recipes for simple furniture-friendly cleaning solutions. Spruce Up Your Guest Room: Overnight guests don’t always make their intentions known.  Be prepared for any surprise visitors by freshening your guest room.  Change your linens to a lighter, summer fabric, update any window treatments to let sun and fresh air in, and dust away any remaining cabin fever!