6 Summer Maintenance Tasks That Could Save You Cash—Have You Done Them All?

Dusty Rhodes • June 22, 2021

After what feels like the longest ever stretch of months stuck indoors, summer—glorious summer—is finally upon us. But before you get too comfy and curl up in a hammock with a delicious blended beverage, know that there are a few things you really should check off your to-do list first.


Yes, that’s right: We hate to be a drag, but in between barbecues and beach days, you still need to stay on top of maintenance around the home. Otherwise you might find yourself with big problems down the line—and big repair costs.


But don’t worry: We’re here to help you prioritize the tasks that’ll keep things running smoothly through the scorching months ahead, and get you back to your summer soirees ASAP.

1. Power-wash your house


“If most of your entertaining will be done outdoors, now is a great time to power-wash the deck, pool area, patio, driveways, and the front porch of your home for guests,” says Jeff Beck, CEO of Leaf Home Solutions.


Power washing has also been known to pay off big-time when it comes time to sell your house. According to the National Association of Realtors®, you can expect to add $10,000 to $15,000 to the sales price after pressure-washing exterior siding.


DIY: You can rent a power washer for between $70 and $300 a day, Beck says. But proceed with caution.

“Do your research before power-washing, as it comes with some safety concerns or can lead to property damage if the wrong pressure is used on the wrong materials,” he says.

Call in the pros: If you’re uneasy about blasting the house yourself, call in a professional. You can expect to spend between about $200 and $400.

2. Give your air conditioner a checkup


Your air conditioner works overtime in the summer, so now’s the time to make sure everything is running smoothly. It’s best to be proactive and check on the AC before you have an issue so that you aren’t sweltering while you try to diagnose a problem.


DIY: Make sure you’re regularly switching out disposable filters that fill up with pet and human gunk like skin cells and hair, says Mark Dawson, chief operating officer of Mister Sparky, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. The condenser unit also needs to be cleaned occasionally to prevent mold, mildew, and performance issues. If you’re handy, you can tackle this task yourself.


“Homeowners need to drain the pan below the condenser and clear all lines to allow excess water pulled from the air to drain out,” Beck says. 


Call in the pros: You can also call in a technician to clean out the condenser unit, Dawson says. Prices vary across regions.


Also consider scheduling a yearly air-conditioning tuneup (expect to spend between $75 and $200) to make sure your unit is operating at peak performance.


“Heating and air-conditioning technicians are able to catch issues that may turn into bigger problems if not handled right away,” Dawson says.

3. Spruce up your home’s exterior


If something looks a little off on the outside, it probably needs your attention.


“Check your landscaping for overgrown trees and shrubs, especially if they are hanging over the home, and trim them down,” says Gregg Hicks, vice president of Modernize.com.


“Summer is also a good time to inspect and clean your siding,” says Hicks. “Check for storm damage, pollen, sap, and other signs of wear and tear, and clean and repair as needed.”


DIY: In addition to trimming the foliage around your house, now is the time to show your lawn some love.


“Fertilize and dethatch your lawn to promote the circulation of air, water, and nutrients to the soil,” says Kevin Busch, vice president of operations for Mr. Handyman. You can choose from special rakes, machines, or even liquids for dethatching the lawn.


Call in the pros: If you need to do some serious trimming, call in the tree professionals. Expect to pay a couple hundred dollars on average—the price is determined by the size of the tree.

4. Replace or fix up exterior doors


If something looks a little off on the outside, it probably needs your attention.


“Check your landscaping for overgrown trees and shrubs, especially if they are hanging over the home, and trim them down,” says Gregg Hicks, vice president of Modernize.com.


“Summer is also a good time to inspect and clean your siding,” says Hicks. “Check for storm damage, pollen, sap, and other signs of wear and tear, and clean and repair as needed.”


DIY: In addition to trimming the foliage around your house, now is the time to show your lawn some love.


“Fertilize and dethatch your lawn to promote the circulation of air, water, and nutrients to the soil,” says Kevin Busch, vice president of operations for Mr. Handyman. You can choose from special rakes, machines, or even liquids for dethatching the lawn.


Call in the pros: If you need to do some serious trimming, call in the tree professionals. Expect to pay a couple hundred dollars on average—the price is determined by the size of the tree.

5. Check on ceiling fans and windows


This is one home maintenance task you can easily knock out in an hour or two: Make sure your ceiling fans and windows are able to provide optimal cooling throughout the home.


DIY: “Homeowners should clean ceiling fans and change them to a counterclockwise rotation,” Hicks says. “This will help drive cool air toward the floor and cool a room’s temperature. Homeowners should also inspect windows and doors for any leaks, where cool air may be escaping.”


Call in the pros: If your window seals are in need of repair, this could be a DIY task for some homeowners.


“Resealing windows and doors … can help keep cool air in and your energy bills lower,” Hicks says. But resealing is an intermediate project, so consider calling a professional if you’re not comfortable with it.

6. Keep an eye on the roof and gutters after storms


Warmer temperatures usher in unpredictable weather, which can mean storm damage to your home.


Monitor your gutters and roof to quickly detect—and hopefully avoid—costly damage.


“Debris can quickly fill your gutters or clutter your roof, so it’s important to assess any damage and clean your gutters after each storm,” Beck says.


DIY: Manually cleaning the gutters is a task you can accomplish over a weekend with a ladder, a spotter for safety, and a few garbage bags.


Call in the pros: Some homeowners prefer to leave roof work to the pros.


“Typical gutter cleaning can range from under $100 to several hundred depending on home size, the accessibility of your gutters, and the severity of debris,” Beck says.


If you need to replace gutters, that “can cost anywhere from $180 to $6,000 on average, depending on the home size and gutter material,” Hicks adds. “Installing gutter guards can help homeowners avoid a full gutter replacement down the road and can cost as little as $200 as a DIY project to $1,000 or more for heavier-duty guards.”



Source: Realtor.com



Dusty Rhodes Properties is the Best Realtor in Myrtle Beach! We do everything in our power to help you find the home of your dreams. With experience, expertise, and passion, we are the perfect partner for you in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We love what we do and it shows. With more than 22 years of experience in the field, we know our industry like the back of our hands. There’s no challenge too big or too small, and we dedicate our utmost energy to every project we take on. We search thousands of the active and new listings from Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Garden City Beach, Longs, Loris, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Surfside Beach real estate listings to find the hottest deals just for you!

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Here’s Where To Start if You’re Selling and Buying at the Same Time

By Dusty Rhodes • August 3, 2026
If you’re a homeowner getting ready to move , one question usually comes first: should you buy your next home before you sell, or sell your current house before you start looking? There’s no single right answer. The best call depends on your finances, your local market, and your timeline. And a trusted agent can help you weigh all of it. But in a lot of cases these days, selling first puts you in the stronger spot. The Advantages of Selling First Selling is usually the trickier half of a move today, so getting it done first clears your biggest hurdle. And that’s especially true right now , because there are more homes for sale than there are buyers, which means houses are taking longer to sell than they did a year or two ago. So how does leading with your sale pay off? Let’s start with the money. 1. You Won’t Get Stuck Paying Two Mortgages Buy before you sell, and you could end up carrying two mortgages at once. And especially since houses are staying on the market longer these days, that overlap may drag on for more time than you’d planned. And if unexpected repairs come up, it could get even more expensive. Selling first takes that risk off the table, so you’re not multitasking homeownership. As Ramsey Solutions puts it: “It’s best to sell your old home before buying a new one to avoid unnecessary risks and possible headaches.“ 2. You Can Use Your Equity To Fuel Your Move This is always true, but one of the biggest perks of selling first is that you’ll know exactly how much money you’re walking away with. And one of the big figures that matters in that conversation is how much equity you have in your current place. Equity is basically your house’s value minus what you still owe on your mortgage. And it adds up fast. According to Realtor.com , homeowners who’ve been in their home for 5 years have about $180,000 in equity on average. And those who’ve had their home for 6-10 years? They have over $340,000. After you sell, you can use that money to cover your down payment or even buy your next home in cash. And knowing that profit up front helps you plan your next move. 3. Your Offer Will Be Hard To Pass Up When your house is already sold, you don’t have to make your offer contingent on that sale. In a market where buyers are taking their time, that’s exactly what a seller wants to see. Picture it from the seller’s side. If their house has been sitting for a while, they’ll gravitate toward the offer most likely to close without a snag. That can also give you room to ask for a little more, like repairs, since a motivated seller would rather keep things moving than lose you and wait for another offer to come in. Your agent can help you make the most of your upper hand in that scenario. Is There a Catch? Selling first has its tradeoffs too, and it helps to see the pros and cons side by side before you decide. Here’s a quick breakdown based on information from Zillow (see visual below) : 

7 Reasons to Use Real Estate Drone Photography for Your Listing

By Dusty Rhodes • July 26, 2026
Online listing photos often shape a buyer’s first impression of a home. They want to understand the home’s setting, the size of the lot, and what makes the property unique before deciding whether it’s worth a visit. That’s one reason real estate drone photography has become a popular addition to many listings. That said, aerial photography isn’t a must-have for every home. Whether you’re selling a home in Houston, TX or listing a rental in Asheville, NC , knowing when to use this style of professional photography can help highlight the features that matter most to buyers. Here are seven situations where real estate drone photography can make a listing more compelling. Key takeaways: Best for homes where the setting is part of the selling point. Shows lot size, layout, and nearby amenities at a glance. Helps buyers visualize features that aren’t visible from the ground. Less valuable for standard homes on small lots. Should be performed by a licensed drone operator following local regulations. 1. The property sits on a large lot or acreage Large properties are difficult to capture from the ground. Aerial photos show the property’s full footprint and help buyers appreciate how much land they’re getting. Bradley Harkey, owner at LuxRE Photos , says drone photography is especially valuable for homes with room to grow. “Drone photography can really be essential when you are selling a home with a lot of land. A view from above can showcase the potential even when it’s not exactly obvious from the ground.” He says buyers often struggle to picture what an undeveloped yard could become. “Oftentimes an unprepped backyard can just look like a bunch of weeds to a potential buyer, but when seen from above, you can visualize where that pool can go, or that basketball hoop, or that go-kart track you always wanted as a kid. Some homes have so much potential, but it’s hard to see between the weeds.” Whether it’s acreage, an equestrian property , or simply a spacious backyard, aerial images help buyers see the property’s potential. 2. The home has waterfront views or scenic surroundings Some of a home’s best features aren’t visible from the front yard. Waterfront access, mountain views, wooded privacy, and distinctive architecture all benefit from an elevated perspective. Doug Smith, principal and founder of Houzpics LLC , explains, “Aerial photography is especially valuable for waterfront or estates with large, feature-rich lots, multi-story architecture, and homes with scenic surroundings. Aerial images help buyers understand the property’s layout and highlight features that traditional ground-level photos may not fully capture.” Rather than focusing only on the home, aerial photography showcases the entire setting.

Psychology says people who keep going back to the beach aren’t just relaxing, they may be restoring something deeper

By Dusty Rhodes • July 21, 2026
Some people enjoy the beach. Others seem drawn to it. They choose beach vacations over city breaks. They find excuses to visit the coast whenever they can. They feel calmer the moment they hear waves crashing or catch sight of the ocean on the horizon. Friends and family may joke that they're "obsessed" with the beach, but psychology suggests there may be more happening beneath the surface. For many people, a love of the beach is not simply about sunshine, swimming, or beautiful views. Research suggests that coastal environments may provide something the modern brain desperately needs: a chance to recover from constant mental demands. Attention Restoration Theory may explain the attraction to the beach One of the most influential explanations comes from Attention Restoration Theory, developed by environmental psychologists Rachel Kaplan and Stephen Kaplan. The theory suggests that everyday life requires large amounts of what researchers call directed attention. This is the mental effort people use to focus during meetings, answer emails, ignore distractions, make decisions, navigate traffic, and manage responsibilities. Over time, directed attention becomes fatigued. Natural environments appear to affect the brain differently. The Kaplans proposed that nature creates a state known as soft fascination. Instead of demanding concentration, environments such as beaches gently hold attention without effort. As a result, the brain gets an opportunity to recover from mental fatigue . For frequent beachgoers, this may help explain why a few hours by the ocean often feels more restorative than an entire day spent indoors. Research on blue spaces supports the idea Psychologists and public health researchers often use the term blue spaces to describe environments that contain visible water, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and coastlines. Over the past decade, a growing body of research has linked blue-space exposure to improved psychological well-being . A 2020 research, Blue space, health and well-being: A narrative overview and synthesis of potential benefits, led by environmental psychologist Mathew White has found that people who spend more time near coastal environments often report better mental health and higher life satisfaction. The authors propose that water environments may improve mental health through several connected pathways: Increased physical activity (people walk, swim, or move more near water) Psychological restoration (reduced mental fatigue and stress) Social interaction (waterfronts often encourage gathering and recreation) Environmental effects such as improved air quality and aesthetic satisfaction Importantly, the review also highlights that blue spaces share similarities with green spaces (like parks and forests), but water environments may have unique psychological effects due to their sensory characteristics and emotional associations. Why the ocean feels different from other environments Many people report feeling calmer almost immediately when they arrive at the beach. Psychologists believe part of the reason may be the unique combination of sensory experiences. The sound of waves is rhythmic and predictable. The horizon creates a sense of openness. The movement of water captures attention without overwhelming it. Unlike social media feeds, traffic, news alerts, and crowded urban environments, the beach provides relatively low levels of cognitive demand. In simple terms, the ocean gives the brain less work to do. That reduction in mental effort may help explain why people often describe feeling lighter, calmer, or more clear-headed after spending time near the water. Place Attachment Theory says beaches can become part of identity For some people, the connection goes beyond relaxation. Psychologists study a concept known as place attachment, which refers to the emotional bond people develop with specific locations. Certain places become connected to family memories, childhood experiences, important life events, or feelings of belonging. Over time, the beach may become more than a destination. It becomes part of a person's identity. This may explain why some individuals return to the same stretch of coastline year after year, even when countless other travel options are available.