Out and About
March arrives and holds our feet to the fire! But keep in mind, everything you do to ready your home this month will be enjoyed by you and your family for the rest of the year. However, this morning starts the countdown....four more weekends.
This is a good week to work on windows, inside and out. If you are one who hires this out, good for you. For those of you who don't hire out, this is the time to pull the vacuum into each room, vacuum the inner sills between your window and storm window and clean each pane to the best of your abilities. Southern Living has a good video HERE.
Once you move to the outside, there are great products to help you with your windows. My husband uses a Windex product that attaches to a garden hose and he follows that with a squeegee. You'll be surprised at how much of a difference clean windows will make to your home. Be sure to check the pollen count and try (I know, I know) to do the outside cleaning on a low pollen count, cloudy day for best results.
Walk the exterior of your house. This is also a good time to clean outdoor lights, sweep the eaves for bugs and cobwebs, check your welcome mats, check that all of your outdoor lights work and no bulbs are out.
If you've been keeping up with the weekly tasks, your outdoor furniture should be clean, painted, and ready to go. If you've left this off, this is the week to tend to all things outdoors. The stores are beginning to get their summer accessories in stock so it is a good time to stock up on pillows, candles, tiki torches...all the things that make outdoor living so enjoyable. (We've got our new pillows bagged up until this early pollen explosion passes, but I wanted to be sure I had the "pick of the litter" as far as color and pattern.)
The goal is to get the outdoor spaces ready with the exception of last minute annuals. Is there a fire extinguisher or hose near the grill? Does the grill need any parts replaced? Do you have outdoor plates and plasticware? Are your outdoor lights clean and bright? Is your path to the house even and free of hazards? Does your watering system work? Are your eaves clean and free of cobwebs?
Remember to tend to any outdoor needs which require a purchase or person at this time. We are marching ever closer to the date!
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Need help with your rental? Laurie Easterlin is a home stager and professional Masters preparation specialist. She is available for in home visits to walk you through each room with a preparation checklist and purchase suggestions. If you are new to town and need suggestions on what to do to get the biggest return for your investment, contact Laurie before making large purchases or remodeling. There are ways to create more income! If you are a DIY style renter, purchase the book at
