Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

All of our crazy Northern Virginia weather has me walking around my house weekly to make sure there’s nothing new that’s damaged or needs attention.

Tree branches falling, birds nesting and constant rain working my sump pump makes me think to remind you about some things you may want to be aware of on your own home as we enter the summer months.

There are things you should do annually, of course, but here are some suggestions to keep your house in tip top shape this summer:

• Get your HVAC serviced. Summer months mean constant air conditioning and you don’t want to have to wait a week for service when the companies get booked! A routine check up could help avoid discomfort later.
• Cut back any overhanging trees and bushes. With the sudden increase in tornados, we’ve all seen many trees down!
• Clean your dryer vent — either with a long, flexible brush or you can hire someone to do that.
• Make sure all of your window screens are intact. If they have holes, you can either replace the whole thing or get them patched.
• Clean your kitchen appliances.
• Clean your drains — especially outdoor drains (such as the ones at the bottom of exterior stairs).
• Check on your outdoor playsets and decks — loose or popping up nails, splitting wood, etc.
• Dust off your ceiling fan blades and bathroom vents (you may also want to change the direction in which they turn to push cold air down).
• Check your attic for leaks or signs of water.

The warmer weather is also a great time for repairs you’ve been putting off. Things like chimney repair, skylights, deck, etc.

If you’re looking for a good contractor for a specific task, you can download my Vendor Guide here. It constantly changes as I’m adding and taking off people, so make sure you check for the current version.

You can always email me if you need something specific not listed at [email protected].