Homeowner April 30, 2024 **After April showers come May, with weather too wonderful to be stuck inside, but just make sure not to spend too much of your time relaxing, but also keep up with your home maintenance and improvements that will prepare your home for the hotter months ahead. Of course, getting it ready for your summer barbecues and outdoor entertaining is also part of the deal.** Here are a few things you should do for your home in May while enjoying more of the sunshine:  ### **Check your home's electrical system.**  May is National Electrical Safety Month, which is the perfect time to check on your home's electrical system. Start your inspection by checking cables, cords, and outlets for damages, as they can cause electrical hazards, especially around water. Replace those that have frayed wires or damage to the outer casing. Make sure that the power strips throughout your home aren’t overloaded, and double-check that they have a surge protection feature. While you’re at it, replace any extension cords that are being used to power heavy appliances like an AC unit, as these cords aren’t designed to work continuously. Likewise, don’t forget to cover any unused outlets to prevent small children and pets from accidentally shocking themselves. This also helps to keep debris and dust from interfering with the sockets. ### **Clean and mend your fence.**  After the spring rains, your fence might not be looking its best. As the weather becomes more consistent, spend some time outside to touch up your fence. A simple spot cleaning or pressure-washing may be just what it needs to look like new. Also, check for holes or gaps that need attention. And if replacing old rails is a task that's too intimidating for you, call a professional to help out. ### **Patch cracks on your pathways and walkways.**  If you haven't done so, take a closer look at the walkways and pathways on your property, and also those that are leading to and passing by your house. Large cracks and uneven surfaces can pose a hazard to you and your neighbors who walk around the area, so it’s worth taking the time to fix them. If there are cracks or potholes in the sidewalks, it’s best to call your local municipality to report it and see who is responsible for repairs. ### **Wash the windows.**  A pleasant, rain-free day after the pollen eases is the perfect time to wash dirt and grime that accumulated on your exterior windows. Avoid doing this chore on very sunny days or at a time when a window is in direct sunlight, though, as the heat may cause the glass to dry too quickly and cause smears, according to window cleaning experts. Some of the items you need to clean your windows effectively include some warm water, quality dish soap, a non-scratch scrub pad, a sponge or washcloth, and a squeegee. Or best to leave it with the pros if the windows are hard to reach and you're not comfortable working on a ladder. ### **Have your HVAC serviced.**  Before the days start to completely warm up, have your air conditioning system inspected so it will keep you cool through the summer season. There's no denying that repair costs like this can be quite expensive, but it’s well worth it to keep your system running well during the hot months. So set up a schedule and consult a licensed professional to inspect and service your home’s HVAC. If your HVAC system doesn’t already have a programmable thermostat, remember to install one this time around to save money on your cooling bills this summer. ### **Clean rain gutters and downspouts.**  Your home's gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year— yes, not just in the fall but also this spring. This task is necessary to prevent any clogging and drainage issues, especially after April showers and you have evergreens and trees around your property. Before clearing off debris from your gutters, such as fallen leaves, tree branches, pebbles, and others, make sure you are equipped with a stable and sturdy ladder that can support you. Also, don’t forget to put on gloves and goggles to protect your hands and face. ### **Get the grill ready.**  If you haven't cleaned the grill before stowing it for the winter, now is the time to give it a good scrub so it can go a long way during summer’s outdoor cooking and entertaining. No matter what type of grill you have, check the owner’s manual first for tips and recommendations. But in general, you will need a new or at least a clean wire grill brush, a bucket of soapy water, a soft sponge, and gloves. Cleaning your grill as part of your spring cleaning will not only improve its efficiency but also extend its life expectancy so you can keep enjoying it for the years to come. Now, let the barbecue fun begin! #### Suggested Blogs [  **From Date Nights to Mortgage Payments: Tips for Couples Buying Their First Home Together**](https://perkinsnwre.com/blog/2026/2/10/from-date-nights-to-mortgage-payments-tips-for-couples-buying-their-first-home-together)[  **7 Simple But Effective Habits For A Cleaner and Tidier Home All Year**](https://perkinsnwre.com/blog/2026/1/20/simple-but-effective-habits-for-a-cleaner-and-tidier-home-all-year)[  **Preparing Your Home for Sale in 2026: What Actually Matters and What Doesn’t**](https://perkinsnwre.com/blog/2026/1/12/preparing-your-home-for-sale-in-2026-what-actually-matters-and-what-doesnt)[  **Maple Valley Housing Trends for 2026: Prices, Demand, and What Buyers Should Expect**](https://perkinsnwre.com/blog/2026/1/9/maple-valley-housing-trends-for-2026-prices-demand-and-what-buyers-should-expect)[  **Conforming Loan Limits for 2026: What Homebuyers Need to Know Before They Buy**](https://perkinsnwre.com/blog/2026/1/7/conforming-loan-limits-for-2026-what-homebuyers-need-to-know-before-they-buy) Edit Lead Form OPEN PAGE Optional custom content for this leadform (unique to this page) Name First Name(required) Last Name(required) Email(required) Phone(required) By providing your cellular telephone, you are consenting to allow Perkins & Associates to contact you with informational communications via voice call, AI voice call, text message, or similar automated means. 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If you use any signal(s) or another mechanism(s) that provides you the ability to exercise choice regarding the collection of personally identifiable information about your online activities over time and across third-party websites or online services, we will attempt to override such signals or mechanisms. When you use our website, no other parties can collect personally identifiable information about your online activities over time and across different websites. Your choice is indicated by your settings in your web browser. A “do not track” indication sent from your web browser will not result in any tracking activity (i.e., tracking cookies) within the website to be programmatically disabled. We collect the following personal information from you: - Contact Information such as name, email address, mailing address, and phone number We use this information to: - Send you requested product or service information
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- **Have their Personal Data deleted or otherwise removed.** Users have the right to obtain the erasure of their Data from the Owner by placing a request at the below designated support email address [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]){' '} including their Facebook URL, first and last name, email address and/or phone number for identification purposes, or user can also request removal of data from Ylopo by removing the "Local Home Search" app connected to the Facebook account that was used for login. Go to Facebook settings, navigate to "Apps and Websites," and find the app named "Local Home Search". Click "Remove" next to the app's name.
- **Receive their Data and have it transferred to another controller.** Users have the right to receive their Data in a structured, commonly used and machine readable format and, if technically feasible, to have it transmitted to another controller without any hindrance. This provision is applicable provided that the Data is processed by automated means and that the processing is based on the User's consent, on a contract which the User is part of or on pre-contractual obligations thereof.
- **Lodge a complaint.** Users have the right to bring a claim before their competent data protection authority. Details about the right to object to processing Where Personal Data is processed for a public interest, in the exercise of an official authority vested in the Owner or for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the Owner, Users may object to such processing by providing a ground related to their particular situation to justify the objection. Users must know that, however, should their Personal Data be processed for direct marketing purposes, they can object to that processing at any time without providing any justification. To learn whether the Owner is processing Personal Data for direct marketing purposes, Users may refer to the relevant sections of this document. How to exercise these rights Any requests to exercise User rights can be directed to the Owner through the contact details provided in this document. These requests can be exercised free of charge and will be addressed by the Owner as early as possible and always within one month. We may provide this information in a standardized format that is not specific to you. The designated email address for these requests is{' '} [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Consent to Receiving Emails, Auto-Dialing & Auto-Texting: By registering, you are giving us and our professional real estate clients and advertisers permission to contact you via text message, email, or telephone using the email address and/ or telephone number that you have provided during the registration process. Such contact may, from time to time, include attempts to contact you via auto-dialing, prerecorded or artificial voice, or auto-texting technology. You may opt out of receiving these forms of communication by unsubscribing from any email communication or texting STOP as a reply to one of our text communications. There is no fee charged by us or its advertisers to receive text messages, however, your mobile service provider may charge you for sending and/or receiving text messages and air-time, as well as any other standard applicable rates charged by your mobile service provider. Information Sharing We may share your personal information with any other business associated with this site, in the ways that are described in this Privacy Statement. We may provide your personal information to our subcontractors in support of our services, such as customer service. These companies are authorized to use your personal information as is necessary to provide these services to you. We may also disclose your personal information: - As required by law such as to comply with a subpoena, or similar legal process.
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- the names and addresses of the third parties that received that information; and
- if the nature of the third party's business cannot be determined from their name, examples of the products or services marketed. Additional Policy Information Our Web site includes Widgets, which are interactive mini-programs that run on our site to provide specific services from another company (e.g. displaying the news, opinions, music, etc.). Personal information, such as your email address, may be collected through the Widget. Cookies may also be set by the Widget to enable it to function properly. Information collected by this Widget is governed by the privacy policy of the company that created it. Our Web site offers publicly accessible blogs, social media, or community forums such as Facebook, Twitter, or Google Plus. You should be aware that any information you provide in these areas may be read, collected, and used by others who access them. Visiting our Websites From Outside the United States. This Privacy Policy is intended to cover collection of information on our websites from residents of the United States. If you are visiting our websites from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored and processed in the United States where our servers are located and our central database is operated. The data protection and other laws of the United States and other countries might not be as comprehensive as those in your country. By using our services, you understand that your information may be transferred to our facilities and those third parties with whom we share it as described in this Privacy Policy. No Rights of Third Parties. This Privacy Policy does not create rights enforceable by third parties or require disclosure of any personal information relating to users of our websites. Notification of Privacy Policy Statement Changes We may update this privacy statement to reflect changes to our information practices or changes in regulations governing privacy. If we make any material changes we will notify you by email (sent to the email address specified in your account) or by means of a notice on this Site prior to the change becoming effective. We encourage you to periodically review this page for the latest information on our privacy practices. Terms and Conditions 1. We use SMS to confirm appointments, send reminders, and notify clients of schedule updates or important changes. 2. You can cancel the SMS service at any time. Just text "STOP". After you send the SMS message "STOP" to us, we will send you an SMS message to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. After this, you will no longer receive SMS messages from us. If you want to join again, just sign up as you did the first time, and we will start sending SMS messages to you again. 3. If you are experiencing issues with the messaging program you can reply with the keyword "HELP" for more assistance, or you can get help directly at{' '} [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). 4. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. 5. As always, message and data rates may apply for any messages sent to you from us and to us from you. Message frequency may vary. If you have any questions about your text plan or data plan, it is best to contact your wireless provider. 6. Your opt-in data will not be shared with 3rd parties. This Privacy Policy was last revised on February 25, 2026. We reserve the right to modify or amend this policy at any time by posting the revised Privacy Policy on the website. true Loading ADA Widget... reCAPTCHA Recaptcha requires verification. [Privacy](https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/) - [Terms](https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/terms/) protected by **reCAPTCHA** [Privacy](https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/) - [Terms](https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/terms/) BESbswy BESbswy
