Schedule Your Spring Home Maintenance Early to Maximize Summer Fun

It’s April on Nantucket, and the Grey Lady is putting on her yearly springtime show as millions of daffodils bloom along Milestone Road, the bike paths, and private gardens throughout the island. It may seem too early to start thinking about getting your vacation home ready for summer, but not according to Debra DeCosta, Project Manager for Woodmeister Master Builders, Lifestyle Management Services.

She says the sooner homeowners prepare for the Nantucket summer months the better. “All the island services are very, very busy in season. So if you come out to your house in June and all of a sudden you notice this or that needs to be done, it will be very difficult to get anybody to come and do it immediately. At that point they’re already completely booked. So, we try to get everything done prior to the season,” she says.

Families arriving on the island for the summer are full of the excited anticipation of afternoons at the beach, quiet walks on the dunes, and get-togethers with friends and neighbors. Careful planning can ensure that you and your family will be able to begin enjoying your favorite island activities right away. On the other hand, waiting until it’s to late to open your house can create unnecessary inconveniences. “If you find out at the beginning of July that your dishwasher isn’t working, you might be hand washing dishes all summer,” DeCosta says.

She recommends putting together a Spring Check List in the fall when closing up your house. “Make a list of all the items that need to be arranged prior to your arrival the next year and get them done as early as possible,” she suggests.

Every home has its own unique maintenance requirements, but here is a list of the most common spring items from an 87-point checklist practiced by Woodmeister’s Lifestyle Management Services Division:

• Review and renew all service contracts (for example: landscaping, pool service, irrigation).
• Have island vehicles inspected and serviced; get beach stickers.
• Change batteries in smoke detectors, remote controls, and alarm clocks.
• Change light bulbs, especially in hard to reach areas.
• Run through all appliances to be sure they’re working properly, replace filters, and schedule any repairs early. Check and clean dryer vents.
• Flush all toilets and test all showers. Check for leaks under sinks.
• Turn on outside water. Make sure outdoor showers work.
• Inspect entire house, inside and outside, check for water infiltration, rodent and storm damage, or any touch-ups that need to be done. Schedule any necessary repairs or work early.
• Replace storm windows and doors with screens. Wash windows.
• Check that all mechanical systems are working properly and make sure air conditioners are fully charged. Change all HVAC filters.
• Inspect electrical panels.
• Inspect decks and patios. Set up outdoor furniture.
• Schedule septic tank cleaning, if necessary
• Inspect gas appliances, including outdoor grills.
• Inspect gutters and schedule cleaning, if necessary.
• Make sure all fire extinguishers are fully charged.
• Arrange for rubbish removal.
• Set up internet, television, and phone service in advance of arrival date.