Get your home ready for spring using these simple steps

Longer days and buds on the trees signal the start of spring. After a dark, wet winter spent mostly inside, it’ll be a relief to open the windows and let the daylight in.

Spring is a time of renewal for both you and your home. As you emerge from your winter cocoon, you’ll want to start the spring repairs and updates your home requires. This is especially true if you’re putting your home on the market soon.

The inside story

• Give your home a good clean. There’s no easy way to do this, other than hiring a cleaning service, so put aside a few hours to get this done and green clean your home.
• Declutter your home. This can be hard, but it can also be a freeing experience. Essentially it comes down to finding a proper home for the things piled around the house – or going the final step and getting rid of them. If you collect knick-knacks, dolls etc., consider having a few out on display at a time and rotating through your collection every few months.
• Look around for repairs and updates you’ve been meaning to make. Do the ones you can fix yourself and assess how affordable it is to have someone else do the rest. Easy fixes include:
• testing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
• replacing filters and light bulbs
• erasing scuff marks from the floor
• upgrading light fixtures
• painting the bedroom

Getting outside

• Inspect the gutters and drains for clogging. A wet winter is a great time for moss to grow, and for the wind to blow in more leaves, small branches, and unexpected surprises.
• Give your windows a good cleaning. At the same time, check for loose caulking and damage to screens. Repair if necessary.
• Clear the outside dryer vent. This should be done by a professional.
• Power-wash the driveway, walkways, and other places where moss is getting a foothold, like fences, paved walkways, and siding.
• Check the pavement for cracks to fill, and any loose chunks of concrete or bricks.
• It’s easy to use your garage to store your belongings, especially if you don’t know what else to do with them. Make a habit of clearing and sorting the garage each spring and fall so it remains manageable. The fall and winter items can be put away while getting summer things like lawnmowers ready for the season, then reverse the practice in the fall.
• Even if you live in a condo with a balcony, it’s worth seeing if the deck, walls, and rails need cleaning. Is there a lot of clutter you can tidy up or remove to make it look more attractive from the street? Check your strata corporation’s bylaws to be sure what’s allowed on the balcony. If you need larger repairs, contact your strata council for help.