Spring Home Prep Tips for Illinois Residents

Mar 17, 2021

After months of freezing Illinois temperatures and wet weather, spring has finally arrived. Thank goodness for the burst of color and occasional sun breaks!

Don’t let the season get away from you before tending to some very important home maintenance. The transition to spring means it’s time for preventative prep and potential repairs for Illinois homeowners. Here’s a helpful list to make this season’s chores straightforward and simple.

Indoor Spring Cleanup

Spring cleaning may be the mantra of the season, but when you’re a homeowner, a more thorough approach is in order. Team up with your family over a weekend and work your way through every corner of the house.

Besides the basics of dusting and sweeping, get the grime of last season out of your home to ward off seasonal allergies and spring colds. Start by decluttering and then work your way from top to bottom:

  • Wipe ceiling fans and light fixtures
  • Vacuum window sills and clean the glass
  • Wash drapes and curtains
  • Empty cabinets and wipe inside and out
  • Wipe counter tops (be sure to clean underneath appliances and decor)
  • Mop hard floors
  • Steam clean carpets

Outdoor Chores

Once the inside is spic and span, make your way outside for porch and yard cleanup. During the winter, leaves, broken branches and other debris can quickly collect around your property. Again work top to bottom:

  • Clear roof line, gutters and downspouts
  • Clean windows
  • Pressure wash siding and concrete walkways
  • Sweep and tidy entryway
  • Prune all vegetation
  • Rake fallen leaves
  • Mow the grass
  • Damage Check

During your indoor and outdoor cleaning sessions, instruct family members to keep a close eye out for damage that happened during winter.

Ice-cold Illinois temperatures can cause burst pipes, leaky sprinkler lines, cracks in your foundation, roof damage and eroded caulking on windows and doorways.

If you notice any of these issues, it’s important to take care of them before they get worse. Waiting until an emergency situation is a major headache and can be very expensive.

Seasonal Maintenance

Every time the seasons change, prioritize your home’s most important equipment. Your plumbing and HVAC systems need attention to work optimally through the next season and beyond. Regular maintenance can extend equipment lifespans and save you money in the long run.

Homeowners can usually handle basic maintenance themselves. But a professional plumber or HVAC technician will inspect and tune-up your system, and make you aware of problems that need to be addressed.

Are you currently in a home that’s overwhelming you with its maintenance demands? Ongoing repairs and upgrades can be time-consuming and financially stressful.

Overstreet Builders can craft a completely custom, high-quality home for you in Chicago’s suburbs. Contact our team to move into a beautiful, brand new house this season!