Summer’s here and the days are long - which means more time to spend outdoors and better weather to enjoy it. It’s also a great time to check over your property to assess its condition and take action before another season rolls around.

There are plenty of projects better suited to finer weather, especially items on your property’s exterior. If you’re getting the urge to get hands on and take advantage of the longer days, here are five project ideas to take care of and improve your property this summer.

Whether adding value or staying on top of maintenance, use these ideas to think about what you could do.

Planter Boxes

Adding a planter box to your property is a simple way to help turn it into a home. This provides an easy opportunity for tenants to grow their own herbs and vegetables and do their own gardening. There are plenty of options from design and construction to buying pre-made. They can be very simple and built to be moved or larger and more permanent.

Site them in an area that will get sunlight. The closer to the house, the more likely they will be used. These boxes can also become multipurpose and be designed to add shelter, privacy, or an edge to a deck.

Exterior Painting

Repainting your house is not a quick DIY project, but one that can be tackled if you have the time to put in the work and learn how. The longer days and finer weather mean you will get a clearer run to get this job completed as a house repaint can take weeks, not days.

As with any painting, preparation is key for a quality finish. Don’t rush this step, as the better the prep, the better the finish.

If you are doing this yourself, it will likely take longer than hiring professionals. Break the house down into stages and try to start and finish areas before moving onto the next. This will focus your work and limit the potential impact on tenants. Be mindful that painting in the peak of summer heat may make your paint dry too fast, so find the balance with the weather.

House Temps

While Healthy Homes focus on warming the house, many houses also get very hot in the summer months, with less thought on how to address this. While running the heat pump or adding in a more comprehensive HVAC system addresses this, there are more affordable options which can help.

Cross-flow ventilation through a home provides big benefits to tenants and is one of the requirements for a green star-rated home. While all homes have windows, many older houses may not have the ability to leave their windows open and maintain security, so tenants may choose not to open them.

Adding security stays to windows allows tenants to securely leave windows open, providing fresh airflow. This also has big advantages when dealing with dampness.

A second option is to add a fan, which helps keep air moving through the house, especially if there is no wind. An electrician can add in a fan to most homes relatively simply.

Deck Refresh

Many decks will have an oil or stain finish on them which typically needs to be reapplied every one-to-two years. The start of summer is the perfect time to redo this, to allow tenants to make the most of this space over the coming months. Give your deck a clean, then reapply the finish you have been using.

If you do not have an outdoor space, why not consider adding one? This is a larger project, but a big value-add for your tenants and property.

Roof, Gutters

Summer is a great time for external maintenance projects, and one of these is dealing with what’s on top of your property. A regular check on your roof and gutters to make sure they are in good condition can help avoid bigger costs in the future. Clear out dirt and debris from gutters, fix loose or leaking gutter joints, replace deteriorating silicone, cut back overhanging tree branches, and check for rust or deterioration in your roof that may need repairs or preventative work.

The start of summer is a great time to do a check-up on your property and take action while the weather is fine, allowing a project to be started and finished with less chance of interruption. Keep on top of regular maintenance to keep your property fresh, and if you have time for DIY, why not tackle some of these projects or small upgrades yourself.