Summer is here and we can finally get outside and enjoy the sunlight without fearing the random occasionally shower that Adelaide sometimes brings down. And while Summer lets us enjoy the outdoors it also gives us the opportunity to take care of some much needed maintenance. Maintenance that will save you time, money and happiness. So let’s get to it.

1. Plants - trees, hedges, roots etc.
   If you own a property with a large garden and trees - or if your neighbours do - Summer is the perfect opportunity to begin the hunt for roots, trim trees and hedges. After a wet winter and spring the plants all around the neighbourhood will have likely grown incredibly quickly, and an encroaching root system from a tree you own or one nearby is a surefire way to ruin any paving or concrete you have.

   Above ground any hedges you have will likely have started to get a bit feral, and trees will begin to drop limbs. So to avoid you, your tenants or your property getting injured it pays now to identify and remove those potential threats.

2. Aircon
   Of course it’s getting hot so you should be keeping an eye on any air conditioners or ceiling fans you have installed. Having an aircon or ceiling fan break on a 40+ degree day is the quickest way to losing good tenants - your tenants may also claim a reduced rent while the amenities are out of action. Keep on top of it and save yourself some money.
   
3. Pests
   Things are getting hotter, and like us all the insects and furry pests will be looking for a way to escape the heat. That means they’ll be lining up at your door to get inside. You can minimise this by making sure your outdoors areas aren’t going to attract a horde of them in the first place. Look for any areas where still water might build up, or where plants or trees might be giving them easy access into your home.
   
4. Bees
   Check for possible areas where bees might decide to live in your wall, bees living in walls are the landlords responsibility and can be extremely costly to remove or eradicate.

   Bees building up hives in the wall can eventually damage the integrity of the wall, so it pays to keep on top of this.

5. Rot
   Check wooden patios/decks for rot. This is especially vital for older homes, winter and spring have likely loaded your wooden features with water, leading to rot. The heat will likely be contributing further damage. Not only will this devalue your home, but it becomes a huge safety risk for you and your tenants.
   
6. Paint
   While we’re in the middle of summer right now, winter and the wet are never far away, so you should now be looking at the exterior paint and finding what areas require a new paint job and what areas will need one soon in the future. You’ll save yourself plenty of money if you take care of this now instead of waiting until the rain hits in winter.
   
7. Windows/Doors
   Just like with the wooden decks the extreme transition between cold and hot has probably warped your windows and doors, or is beginning to. Check for this now and begin maintenance before it gets too bad - and too expensive.
8. Roof maintenance
   Fixing your roof now will save you thousands of dollars. Waiting until there is visible water stains is possibly the worst strategy for roof maintenance. This means getting on top of your roof and into the roofspace to check for anywhere the roof is damaged.

   You’ll also get on top of other roof issues like mould.

Once you’ve taken care of these eight issues you can enjoy summer with some peace of mind!