Advice for homeowners: Seasonal maintenance and upkeep

If you’re new to being a homeowner, maintenance might feel like a reality check. But even if this new commitment feels overwhelming, you might quickly settle into a routine and start to find the work satisfying, not tedious.

Each home is different. Maintenance demands largely depend on the age of your property but could be determined by environmental factors and building materials too.

No matter when you purchased your home, it’s never too late to maintain it. If you’re ready to get started, it’s always worth knowing how to keep things in order throughout the year.

A seasonal guide to taking care of your house

1. Spring and summer

Spring and summer both treat us to mild and generally settled weather in the UK. Research has proven that August is the most popular month to move, mostly thanks to its longer, brighter days. Families take advantage of the summer holidays to give their children more time to adjust to their new home and lifestyle.

Summer also means that you can enjoy relatively low maintenance demands when you first move in. A few things to tick off your list before or during your first summer might include:

• Jet-washing your driveway and pavement
• Washing the windows
• Mowing the lawn if you have one
• Cleaning outdoor furniture
• Harvesting and planting in the garden
• General cleaning and dusting

In summer, you can focus on keeping the garden and grounds in top condition – because there’s not as much to worry about indoors.

2. Autumn

Once you’ve taken some time to settle into your new home, you’ll need to think about preparing for winter – particularly when it comes to insulation. Older properties might need extra care and attention, but most new build homes have quality insulation and efficient heating systems installed before you move in.

This season is mostly about taking practical, preventative and precautional steps. Autumn maintenance commitments include:

• Checking your boiler or heating system
• Tidying the garden, especially raking up leaves
• Making your home more energy-efficient
• Cleaning or replacing the gutters

Above all, autumn provides a fantastic window of opportunity to ensure that your home heating is working as it should. This gives you time to organise any replacement parts or repairs before winter arrives.

3. Winter

When winter starts to bite, you need to do everything in your power to keep yourself and your family warm, all while making sure that your home is as efficient as it can be. Minimising draughts should be at the top of your list, so it’s always worth learning how to save money by draught-proofing your home.

Other important tasks during the winter might include:

• Insulating your pipes, especially if you’re not using the heating very often
• Checking your roof for imperfections that could cause a leak
• Ventilating the property regularly, to prevent damp
• Protecting your garden against bad weather
• Clearing drains and gutters, especially if they’re blocked

Seasonal upkeep: An overview

Even though the smaller jobs take up your time, putting them off could cost you in the long run. Keeping on top of maintenance and household jobs will save you money and keep your home as clean, safe and warm as possible for you and your family.