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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Top Mistakes Homeowners Are Making in 2026 (And How To Avoid Them)

By Dusty Rhodes • March 23, 2026
Let’s be clear: selling your house is absolutely possible right now. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), roughly 11k homes sell every day in this country. And the sellers who are making their moves happen all have one thing in common: they’ve adjusted their strategy to match today’s market. They’re realizing inventory has grown. Homebuyers are more selective. And buyer expectations are higher. The sellers who struggle are usually approaching today’s market with yesterday’s expectations. Here are the three biggest mistakes they’re making – and how to avoid them. 1. Pricing Based on What Their Neighbor Got a Few Years Back Setting your price is the most important decision you make when you sell – and the one that’s most often mishandled. Realtor.com data shows almost 1 out of 5 sellers in 2025 had to drop their price. Here’s what those sellers went wrong. Buyers have more choice and more negotiating power now that inventory has grown. And house hunters will actively avoid your house is if feels like it’s priced too high. That’s why overpricing usually leads to: Fewer showings Less competitive (or lowball) offers Longer time on market And all three of those side effects are things you don’t want to deal with. What To Do Instead: The good news is the cure is simple. Just price for today’s buyer, not yesterday’s headlines. Lean on your agent’s knowledge of recent comparable sales, current competition, and local buyer behavior to land in the value “sweet spot” that drives traffic and urgency from day one. 2. Trying To Skip Repairs That Buyers Now Expect A few years ago, you could sell as-is and still get well above asking. Today? Not so much. Right now, NAR says two-thirds of sellers are making at least some repairs. And the reason why is simple. In a market with more inventory, buyers compare homes side by side. Homes that don’t show well (or feel dated) are going to lose attention quickly, even if the issues are minor. What To Do Instead: Ask your agent which high-impact, low-stress updates they’d recommend for your house. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s helping buyers see themselves moving in without a mental to-do list. Small investments in staging, repairs, and curb appeal can make a huge difference in how quickly offers come in – and how strong those offers are. 3. Playing Hardball When Buyers Try To Negotiate Today’s buyers have housing affordability at the top of their minds. And since money is already tight, they’ll be pickier and will probably ask for some compromises from you. Whether that’s making repairs, giving them a credit at closing, or taking just a few thousand dollars off your asking price, negotiating is normal again. So, if something pops up in the inspection, you’re going to need to be open to talking about it. If you’re not, you may very well see your buyer walk away. And some sellers are figuring this out the hard way. Redfin data shows one of the big reasons home sales fell thru in 2025 was inspection or repair issues. Odds are those homeowners weren’t willing to flex a bit to get the deal done. What to Do Instead: Meet with your agent to make sure you understand what buyers in your area care the most about. Align your price with value, present the home clearly and confidently, and stay open to reasonable negotiations that keep deals moving forward.

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By Dusty Rhodes • March 16, 2026
They’re often called aging-in-place features, but things like curbless showers, nonslip flooring and wide walkways and doorways can benefit everyone, no matter their age or ability. “Regardless of aging in place, there is a place for these in day-to-day life, whether it be a teenager on crutches, a family member having had surgery, active kids,” designer Dana Bass says. “It’s not just about aging in place. We’ve got to account for unplanned life emergencies.” Designer Tammy Battistessa of Ellaire Kitchen & Bath Design agrees. “Whenever possible, I include aging-in-place and universal design features in every project, as I believe many of these features benefit clients of all ages and abilities, in addition to allowing a client to safely remain in their home for a longer period of time,” she says. Creating a home that can adapt also makes it more sustainable. “Aging in place is a key element to making legacy homes that can evolve over time,” architect Tim Barber says. With all that in mind, we asked more than 50 home design and construction professionals to share the aging-in-place features they always recommend. Here are the 10 that came up again and again. 1. Wide Walkways and Doorways Planning ahead is one of the most important steps when incorporating aging-in-place features. Many of these elements require thoughtful design and construction, so it’s wise to start early — and to consider hiring professionals who understand the nuances. “Thinking through how you will really use the space makes all the difference,” designer Haiku Durden of HDS Design says. “Having a designer involved really makes a difference.” A professional can help you create a plan that works for your current needs and anticipates future ones. “We currently default to aging-in-place features when our clients are near retirement or retirement age,” says designer Jenny Guggenheim of Guggenheim Architecture and Design Studio . “Preplanning by adding blocking behind the wall finish, spacious floor planning to allow for wheelchair or walker use.” In fact, spacious layouts are among the most commonly recommended aging-in-place strategies. Wide walkways and doorways — and generous clearances around furniture and fixtures — make it easier for anyone to move through the home comfortably. Installing a continuous flooring material throughout also reduces tripping hazards caused by changes in height or texture between rooms.

The Price You Set Can Make (or Break) Your Sale

By Dusty Rhodes • March 2, 2026
There’s one decision you’re going to make when you sell that determines whether your house sells quickly, or it sits. Whether buyers make an offer, or scroll past it. Whether you walk away with the maximum return, or you end up cutting the price later. And that’s your asking price . The #1 Mistake Sellers Make Today: Trusting the Wrong Number If you’re thinking of moving and trying to figure out what your house may sell for, it’s tempting to start with an online home value tool. They’re fast, free, and easy. And you don’t have to talk to anyone. But here’s the problem: they don’t know your house. And that can be a bigger drawback than you realize. Where Online Estimates Fall Short Online tools often lag behind the market. They look in the rearview mirror, relying on closed sales and delayed information. And in that sense, they’re using incomplete data . That’s not a miss in how these systems are built. Some information just isn’t available online. Bankrate explains: “ While these tools can be a useful starting point, keep in mind that they typically do not provide the most accurate pricing. Algorithms can only rely on the information available; they can’t account for things like a home’s condition or renovations made since the last public information was updated.” They can’t see: The unique features that make your house special All the work you’ve put in to keep it in good condition Or, how in-demand your specific neighborhood is right now So, while they may do a good job in some cases, they can’t be as accurate as a local agent who has boots on the ground day in and day out. In a market where buyers have more options, a seemingly small margin of error can cost you thousands if you price too low, or weeks of lost momentum and time if you price too high. If you want to sell for the most money and in the least amount of time, you don’t want the fast answer on how to price your house. You want the right one. That’s why the savviest homeowners today don’t rely on algorithms when it actually matters. They rely on people, specifically trusted local agents. What an Expert Agent Brings to the Table According to 1000WATT , sellers overwhelmingly believe real estate agents have the best sense of a home’s true value, far more than any automated tools.