The summer season is just around the corner! Now’s the perfect time to get your house ready before the warm weather hits, and we’ve gathered some great seasonal maintenance tips.

During the summer months, you’ll be using the outdoor spaces of your home just as much as the indoor. Start off by doing away with any yard debris and giving all your trees, bushes and plants a good trim. Getting rid of any overgrowth or fallen leaves and twigs will help keep the bugs and critters away. Plus, pruning keeps your yard looking nicely landscaped and the plants healthy in the long run.

Porches, walkways, patios and driveways—keeping these surfaces clean boosts your home’s curb appeal and makes your outdoor spaces more inviting. Sweep away any free-floating debris and then use a pressure washer with detergent. Scrubbing with soap and water should do the trick for any stubborn embedded dirt.

Next up is windows. Wash both the interior and exterior of all your windows with warm water and soap so you can keep an extra close eye on the kids when they’re playing outside. And don’t forget about the window screens. Hot, soapy water and a brush will have them looking brand new.

Since you’re more likely to turn on your air conditioner during the summer months, this is the time to inspect your windows and doors. Adding fresh sealant to any cracks or gaps will keep any cool air from escaping—and ultimately save energy and money. This will also help keep hot air and unwanted pests out of your house.

Don’t let the air quality inside your home add to those summer allergies. Take a damp rag to all ceiling fans and clean the vents and filters before firing up the air conditioner. It’s never a bad idea to get your air conditioner inspected by a professional to ensure that your unit is working properly, safely and efficiently.

Prepping your home for the season can be a lot of work. But once you’ve gone through all the steps, you can sit back, relax and play it cool this summer!

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It’s that time of year again, when the chill in the air and the shorter days make us long for the comfort of our own homes. It’s also a good time to tackle those seasonal tasks that will help make your home fall-ready. Here are a few tips that will make the fall maintenance process a breeze.

Start outside. If the leaves have already started falling, rake them regularly to ensure your lawn still gets the sunshine it needs to maintain that healthy green color. You’ll also want to clean the leaves out of your gutters to prevent any clogs that could damage your roof. While you’re checking the gutters, take a moment to inspect the roof. If you notice any signs of damage, get it taken care of now so you won’t have any issues come winter.

Walk around your house and look for any stray tree branches that could break or hit your house in cases of extreme weather. Trim any trees that look dangerous or unhealthy—this will help for both safety and post-winter growth.

Prepare the inside of your home with annual furnace maintenance. Having a professional check your heating system is the best way to make sure your house stays toasty in the coming months.

You can also maintain your home’s insulation by sealing gaps and checking for air leaks in the windows and doors. This can be done this by feeling for drafts in the frames and sealing them with weather stripping or caulk. If you find larger holes, fill them with heavy-duty hardware cloth to keep unwanted critters outside.

With every new season comes another opportunity to check your safety devices. Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers should all be tested or replaced if necessary.

Finally, take pride in all that you’ve done to maintain and prepare your home for the cooler seasons. Once winter rolls around, you’ll be happy to have taken those extra precautions.

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Summer’s here and temperatures are rising! Now that the days are warm, it’s important to keep the interior and exterior of your new home well maintained. From leaves and flowers to food and drinks, make sure you’re cleaning off exposed surfaces so heat doesn’t make unnecessary stains on your patio and furniture.

Tidy up the yard by pruning and trimming trees and shrubbery. This will make it look landscaped and ensure the longterm health and growth of your plants.

Keep the hot air out and cool air in by taking care of your AC. Not only will you help lengthen its lifecycle but you’ll also keep it running more efficiently – for a cooler home and less energy costs. Change the  filters monthly and clean the buildup of dust and grime on the vents, this increases the air-quality and is crucial for those with allergies. Scheduling  annual AC checkups with a licensed technician will help avoid any bigger repair costs in the future and give you peace of mind.

Now’s the time to check your windows. You’ll want to make sure they’re closing properly so you don’t waste energy by trying to cool off the outside. Test the window sealants and look for any small openings along the bottom and sides. Lastly, double check the weather-stripping to make sure it’s in good condition.

As always, it’s important for safety to check your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regulary throughout the year, but it’s vital to check them during the summer due to the heat and dry conditions. Make sure batteries are fresh and that everything’s in working order by testing your detectors.

With these summer maintenance tips, it should be smooth sailing all summer long.

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With a new year comes new home care and maintenance tips here at Ponderosa Homes! With all this California rain, we found some helpful tips to keep your sanctuary safe from this winter weather.

There’s no better time to sip on hot chocolate and get cozy around the fireplace, but make sure to clean and inspect the chimney for any signs of damage. Take a flashlight and safely look inside, you’ll want to make sure there are no obstructions in the chute and that there isn’t a buildup of debris along the interior. Afterwards, sweep up the floor and remove any leftover ash from previous use. You never know what good old St. Nick could have left behind!

Pro-tip: ash is a natural source of calcium and nutrients for plants, so feel free to sprinkle some on your flower beds and watch your garden morph into spring.

It can be hard to leave nature at the door, especially when you’re on the go. After a few holiday parties and friendly gatherings, your carpets could need a little TLC – get them deep cleaned and see what a difference it makes just in time for allergy season.

It’s always important to clean your gutters and drains – in rainy weather they get backed up, so stay consistent and your home will thank you later. Same goes for rooftop checks to make sure there aren’t any leaks. As our state recovers from the drought, you’ll want to make sure your home doesn’t have to recover from the rain.

Lastly, enjoy your beautiful home and get started making more memories with your loved ones, the season isn’t over yet.

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