While summer can mean basking in the warm breezes and sunny skies, the seasonal change also comes with some responsibilities for homeowners. But when you’re already logging long hours at work and tending to your kids, how can you take care of essential chores?
Fortunately, it’s possible to make seasonal maintenance easier with a little bit of strategizing. Keep reading to find five ways parents can simplify seasonal home upkeep so it doesn’t feel like a hassle!
1. Stick to a Schedule
It’s too easy to punt chores to the next day – or even further down the road. That’s why it’s so important to start with a schedule and delegate responsibilities. When you chip away at chores gradually throughout the week, you won’t be stuck spending a beautiful Saturday afternoon vacuuming or watering the grass instead of going for a hike.
When you have kids, you can get them involved in the upkeep process. Consider their abilities and assign age-appropriate tasks to each child.
For instance, a younger child who can handle the weight of a water pitcher might like to help hydrate plants in your front garden bed. And another child might be good at picking up sticks or sweeping the driveway. Older kids can power wash the deck or clean off porch furniture, and high school-age kids can do mowing and hedge trimming. Keep a calendar on display in your kitchen or another communal space, or use a digital calendar if that’s more effective.
Remind everyone to update the calendar when they’ve finished a task to keep everything on track.
2. Use Smart Tech to Manage Outdoor Spaces
The last thing you want is to swim in a murky pool or deal with yellow grass during the height of summer. That’s where smart technology enters the picture as a game changer in managing outdoor areas. Using platforms like Service Fusion’s pool software, for instance, can make pool maintenance less of a headache. You can monitor water chemistry and get cleanings on your calendar. If a certain metric looks suspicious, you can reach out to a technician and even track their route to your service request.
Apps can simplify managing irrigation systems or smart lighting setups, too. You’ll be able to turn on your sprinklers early in the morning, before it gets too sunny, without getting out of bed to do it. And you can turn on spotlights and other forms of outdoor ambient lighting just by reaching for your phone.
3. Outsource Some Tasks
Sometimes cleaning the gutters or cleaning your home’s siding can take more time than you’re willing to sacrifice. After all, summer is about spending time with family enjoying the great outdoors. Thanks to a robust gig economy, you can outsource these bigger jobs through apps like Thumbtack and TaskRabbit.
Need some deck repairs?
You can find a qualified handyperson to tackle the job on one of these apps. You can get quotes, read reviews, and find a pro – sometimes within minutes. This saves you time that you can reinvest in having fun with your loved ones.
4. Set Up Reminders
Even the most diligent person can get overwhelmed by responsibilities. From changing HVAC filters to dusting the vents, keeping up with home-related chores can be mentally exhausting. But you can save yourself from stressful situations by automating reminders.
Watering houseplants, changing fridge filters, or checking your sprinkler system are among the tasks you can track using organizational apps on your phone. Even simply setting a reminder on your phone’s calendar with a voice assistant will pop up an alert when it’s time to complete a task.
5. Connect Your Calendars
If you’re juggling calendars for your kids’ activities, work responsibilities, and household chores, consider syncing them. You’ll be able to avoid conflicts and see what each week looks like more easily. If you need to service your air conditioning unit, for example, you don’t want to schedule that appointment at the same time you should be picking up your child from soccer practice.
Use online booking tools to help with calendar integration. Scheduling a roof inspection or gutter cleaning online can help you plug the date into your calendar right away. You’ll reduce the likelihood of scheduling conflicts and, when you enable auto reminders, be able to take control of your busy life!
Stay Organized
Yes, seasonal home upkeep is a necessity and will take time. But it doesn’t have to become overwhelming when you’re proactive about staying organized. Delegate some tasks to your kids to help them feel involved and teach them the virtues of contributing to family chores. Sync your calendars and set automatic reminders so you don’t let key tasks fall through the cracks. And use apps and smart technology to streamline task management. With these steps in place, you’ll be able to make progress toward getting your home ready for a season of fun in the sun.