Spring often inspires homeowners to refresh and revitalize their living spaces with spring maintenance. For handymen, this can mean a surge in the demand for home maintenance projects. From clogged gutters to air conditioner tuneups, the maintenance tasks are endless.
However, if you’re a handyman who operates your own small business, you may already know that many customers aren’t always aware of the extent of the maintenance their homes need as well as the costly repairs. In these cases, it’s helpful to have a spring home maintenance checklist you can go over with your customers.
From the roof to the basement and everywhere in between, we’ve compiled a can’t-miss spring home maintenance checklist and accompanying home maintenance tips to help you set your customers up for success this year.
#1: Inspect and repair the roof
The snow, ice, and heavy winds of a winter storm can wreak havoc on even the sturdiest roofs. Even warmer weather can start to weather down the foundation of the roof. But even if your customer didn’t experience any major damage from warmer weather or cold weather, big problems often begin as little problems. This makes checking your customers’ roofs and repairing any winter damage important to saving them time and money down the road.
When you’re examining your customers’ roofs, be sure to check:
- The shingles – Loose, curled, cracked, or missing shingles can be signs of more extensive damage to the roof. They can also cause leaks and pooling that could lead to costly water damage.
- The plumbing vent pipes – After weathering a long winter, plumbing vent pipes might need a little TLC. Be sure to check for signs of damage, like bent, dented, or missing pipes.
- The attic – Although this technically pertains to the inside of the house, we’re putting it in the roofing category because it’s so crucial. When spring arrives, make sure to check the attic for signs that a roof might be underperforming, such as water damage, mold, or mildew.
Even if repairs are substantial, spring is the best time to address them. As Jack Cottrell of Colorado roofing company Jack the Roofer states, “Spring is the time when most homeowners catch up on their finances, file their tax returns, and get their tax refunds, making it easy to finance home improvement projects.”
#2: Check gutters and downspouts
While you’re inspecting the roof, it’s worth taking a look at your customers’ gutters and downspouts. During the fall and winter months, gutters and downspouts can get cluttered and clogged with debris, but when the spring rains arrive, they need to be clear so that excess water can flow freely off of and away from the house instead of leaking into it.
You can make sure your customers’ drainage systems are up to the challenges of the spring by:
- Clearing the gutters and downspouts - Remove dead leaves, branches, twigs, and anything else that may be clogging the gutters and downspouts. It’s recommended that you first remove the largest bits of debris by hand with a scoop. Then, you can use a garden hose to flush the gutters.
- Checking for and repairing seasonal damage - Gutters and downspouts take quite a beating during the winter, so check for areas where they’re sagging or broken. These can cause wooden eaves and trim to rot, which can lead to leaks and infestations. You should also check for holes and missing sections.
#3: Check exterior paint and/or siding
Your spring home maintenance checklist should also include a thorough inspection of a home’s exterior paint and/or siding. Exterior paint wears over time, so if you notice areas of significant peeling, chipping, cracking, or fading, it might be time to suggest spring painting services to your customer.
Likewise, you may want to suggest cleaning, repairing, or replacing any siding that’s cracked, loose, warped, rotted, or otherwise damaged.
#4: Check window exteriors
When it comes to evaluating the condition of your customers’ windows for spring, two things are important. First, ensure that the screens are effective at keeping bugs out on those cool spring evenings when they want the windows open. Second, check that the windows themselves are energy-efficient enough to keep cool air in on those hot summer days when they have the air conditioning on.
In addition, be sure to:
- Check for tears, rips, or holes in the screens
- Check for damaged or broken casings, jambs, and shutters
- Clean the windows
#5: Check outdoor decks
For anyone with wooden decks, balconies, pergolas, or patios, your spring home maintenance checklist should include a thorough inspection of these structures. Winter can be especially cruel to real wood elements, so make sure to check for:
- Peeling, rotting, or warping wood
- Peeling or chipped paint, if applicable
If you’re able to power wash your customers’ decks, you may also want to offer that as an option to blast away residual winter dirt and grime. In cases where a deep clean isn’t enough, repainting or resealing may be necessary. Communicate with your customer about what type of maintenance will be best for the long term. Often, customers aren’t sure of what options are available, so they’ll defer to you for your expert advice and specific service offerings.
Clarify your service offerings with a free Business Page on Nextdoor. This way, neighbors in your community can know ahead of time what type of maintenance you can provide for them.
#6: Check concrete areas
It isn’t just woodwork that can suffer during the winter—concrete is also susceptible to damage. As a handyman, it’s important to check whether hardscaping elements, like driveways, walkways, and other paths, were hard enough to withstand the winter.
Cracking is the biggest tell-tale sign of winter abuse to concrete, asphalt, and other stone elements. Fortunately, small cracks can often be remedied with a little caulking. Larger cracks and holes, however, might require replacement.
Even if your customer doesn’t think the cracks in their driveway or walkways are a big deal, the fact of the matter is, that the condition of the concrete outside of a home contributes to that home’s curb appeal.
According to Pete Catalano of Concrete Hero, a small concrete servicing company in Chicago, driveways and other concrete areas outside of the home are a major factor when it comes to selling the home. This means that repairing your customers’ driveways or walkways can significantly add value to their homes.
#7: Tend to the lawns
There’s a good chance your customers’ yards are in rough shape after a season’s worth of snowfall and winter storms. Now is the best time to help get them in order.
Consider offering your customers yard sprucing services, such as:
- Clearing away debris – Winter storms can result in downed tree limbs and branches that need to be removed. You should also check the trees on the property for broken or dead branches that could become safety hazards.
- Checking their sprinklers and irrigation systems – Sprinkler heads can become packed with dirt and small twigs that keep them from operating properly. Clean them well, then check to make sure they’re working. Low water pressure, leaks, or other problems should be dealt with as early in the season as possible.
- Performing basic landscaping – To help prepare your customers’ lawns for summer, you might begin springtime chores like cutting the grass, planting flowers, or laying mulch. Take time to collaborate with other local landscapers to help take on larger projects.
#8: Repair and refresh the inside of the home
Although it’s a home’s exterior that bears the brunt of winter’s brutality, you shouldn’t neglect the inside of the home when it comes to providing your customers with thorough spring home maintenance.
There are a number of indoor matters you can help attend to, such as:
- Checking for moisture in the basement – It’s important to check your customers’ basements for signs of moisture and water damage, like leaks, mold, and mildew. If they have a crawlspace, you should check there as well, as leaks from melting snow can be a common issue at the end of the season.
- Inspecting the windows and doors - You’ve checked the outside of the windows and doors, but now you need to check the insides. This means checking window casings, door jambs, and the doors themselves for damage and functionality. Be prepared to caulk any cracks or spaces that may have opened over the winter.
- Checking air conditioning units – Depending on where you live, it might be a few months before your customers will use their A/C units, but you should still offer to check them. This way, if any repairs or replacements need to be made, they can happen well before the height of summer.
- Examining safety detectors - It’s recommended that you switch out the batteries in-home safety detectors at least once a year, and there’s no better time to do it than spring. By adding this task to your home maintenance checklist, you can provide your customers with even greater peace of mind.
Ensure springtime success for your customers and your business with Nextdoor
As a local handyman, you rely on your community—not only in the spring but throughout the entire year. So, how can you keep in touch with your community, reach new customers, and make a name for yourself in your neighborhood?
Nextdoor makes it easy for local business owners to connect with their neighbors and communities. By setting up your free Business Page, you can advertise your services, promote special deals, and introduce yourself to new neighbors.
Plus, your customers can leave recommendations to help build your reputation and make it easier for others in your area to find (and hire) your business.
Reach out to your neighbors by claiming your Business Page on Nextdoor today.
Sources:
Tamko. Is Your Roof Ready for Spring? https://www.tamko.com/articles-resources/is-your-roof-ready-for-spring
Family Handyman. Your Spring Home Maintenance Checklist. https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/your-spring-home-maintenance-checklist/
Golden Group Roofing. How Much Does a New Roof Increase Home Value? https://goldengrouproofing.com/roofing-tips/new-roof-home-value/
Family Handyman. The Best Way to Clean Gutters. https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/the-right-way-to-clean-your-gutters/
Homeserve. 2021 Spring Home Maintenance Checklist. https://www.homeserve.com/en-us/blog/home-improvement/spring-home-maintenance-checklist/
Concrete Hero. 3 Easy Ways to Fix Concrete When Selling Your Home. https://www.theconcretehero.com/2019/03/3-cheap-ways-to-fix-your-concrete-when-selling-your-home/
Thumbtack. Spring Home Maintenance Checklist. https://www.thumbtack.com/guide/content/spring-home-maintenance-checklist-419984284136865794/
Texas Department of Insurance. Smoke Alarms: Where to Put Them, How Often to Replace the Batteries. https://www.tdi.texas.gov/tips/smoke-alarms-where-to-put-them-how-often-to-replace-batteries.html#
