This article comes from MSN's real estate pages: http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=19522018>1=35000 The first area their suggestions touch on is your air conditioning unit. They recommend "babying" it. How's that? Replace or clean your filter before your unit is going to be in demand. This both helps efficiency, but also ensures that clean air is being cooled and circulated in the home. Other air conditioning tips they provide include utilizing May sunshine (which is warm, but not too warm) to kill any bacteria that might have been growing through winter. Air conditioning, since it uses refrigerant/coolant to provide the cool air to your home has a fair exchange of moisture. When you're running your air conditioning (and especially in older units) there may be some build-up of that moisture...in the forms of extra condensation, or sometimes mold and/or mildew. --> THESE THINGS are not good. (like mold in your home is ever good...) so it is best to have these particular concerns looked at by a professional. <--
Second, they recommend washing your windows. I'll copy and paste here, because they say it well.
Wash windows Cleaning all the windows and window coverings in your home is a big, satisfying and several-hours-long project. Choose a sunny day and, if possible, get someone to work with you. Remove curtains and blinds if you can. Clean windows and window trim, inside and out. Start by brushing (with a dry broom) or dusting the trim. If it's really dirty, wipe it down with a rag and soapy water. Outdoors, use a hose to rinse off the soap. To clean the glass, use a good-quality squeegee, the tool of professional window washers (for a demonstration, watch this instructional video on YouTube). Before purchasing a squeegee, check the width of your smallest windows. Assemble a pole (unscrew the handle from a broom) that fits your squeegee's handle, a microfiber cloth and a bucket. Use a few drops of liquid dish soap or a teaspoon of TSP in a two-gallon bucket of warm water. Many professionals like TSP, or trisodium phosphate, a powdered stain remover and degreaser found at hardware stores, for a streak-free finish. (Caution using TSP: In a hot solution, it can remove or take the gloss off paints and can darken aluminum or wood.) Apply the cleaning solution with a rag or mop. Immediately squeegee it off, wiping the blade between strokes to minimize dripping. Do one window at a time. Use the squeegee on the pole for hard-to-reach places. Consider engaging a professional to do second-story windows.Then, they recommend cleaning and replacing any torn screens. This can help prevent the amount of dust and allergens in your home and it's warm enough so that they dry quickly enough not to make this a week long project. Fixing a screen is also pretty easy, you can buy the screen material by the yard at hardware stores. Just make sure you have the measurements and replace a cut-to-fit piece inside the metal frame (or for wooden, it may require several small nails - or a staple gun...).
They also recommend May as a good time to schedule a paint job for the exterior of your home. If your house isn't in need of a paint job, just use the garden hose to make sure you get all the dirt/mineral deposits...etc. off of the paint to prevent deterioration.
Last, they recommend inspecting home irrigation: hoses, sprinklers...etc. Figure you're going to use them during summer, and if they break you're going to have to buy a new one when they are expensive. Just save yourself the hassle.
Now I admit, I am a bit biased. I think the most important one of these suggestions is to make sure that your air conditioner works (being hot is just no fun). It's really easy to change out your filter and even easier to pick up the phone and schedule a service to prep your unit.
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