Spring Has Sprung – Are You Ready?

I must confess that I am not. In fact, I am so far from ready that I’m almost catching up to myself on the far side of the track. So much to do and so little time to do it! And the more I investigate what else needs doing, the more the tasks and small jobs seem to pile up on top of themselves.  

Springtime in Monmouth County, New Jersey is a glorious time – the weather is turning to warm, even on many nights. And it seems that anything that is alive and outside is just about bursting with life, with endless variations on the color “green” and early flowers bringing many other colors. Unfortunately, some of those “greens” are appearing on my roof – and I actually have a sprout or two rising from the gutter itself. Amazing.

But not so amazing as it all starts to get overgrown. And the bushes need trimming, along with the old rotten tree stump alongside the driveway. Not to mention the weed and crabgrass killer that should have already been applied. The front porch is showing some streaks that could be mold. Or mildew. I don’t know. 

My backyard Entertainment Center, at this point, is only fit to entertain the few local varmints that survive suburban life. And my gutters. My gutters have lived to see another Spring, but they badly need to be cleaned before they rip themselves away from the house on their own steam. And the list goes on…

Focus Is The Key

Whenever I’m faced with a mixed bag of important tasks, I find it helpful to categorize and prioritize them in terms of their relative importance as well as their overall criticality. Similar to what Emergency Room Triage does at the local hospital when they quickly evaluate each new patient’s level of distress and their need for immediate care. 

Now, I am not comparing a trip to the ER with a review of homeowner tasks that need to be completed on a seasonal basis. But the same key ingredient – Focus – will get us through.

Identify What You Can Ignore

Complications and delays happen too easily when tasks of essentially different nature, severity and resolution skillset, are lumped in together. Many of the tasks on my list are landscape-related: controlling weeds, deploying fertilizer, trimming branches and disposing of leaves and other debris, etc. I’ve decided to leave those jobs, especially the repetitive ones, to my landscaping service. They’ve done a good job in the past and are very easy to work with.

Tackle The Most Important First

Most of the remaining tasks on my list are related to cleaning: from the “hardscape” or permanent (concrete pads, driveways and sidewalks) all the way to “softscape” items (like porches, decks, rooves, gutters and leaders, and even siding). And everything in between.

Pressure Washing To The Rescue

Given that most of the items on my to-do list relate to intensive cleaning, I plan to engage a Pressure Washing, or Power Washing Service, to work with me and get my home ready for the outdoor entertaining season.

We may not get to each and every one of the items on my list this year, but I will be working with them to identify the projects with the biggest Return On Investment, whether that’s calculated in dollars and cents, or simply in terms of enjoyment and pride of ownership. 

The Whole House – From Top-To-Bottom

Standing at the curb outside your house and look back at the property – you’ll know in an instant the kind of improvement that simple cleaning can bring to your whole building. Roofs get discolored and stained as they age. Entryways discolor, becoming less and less inviting. Siding of all types, shutters, windows and doors made from a variety of materials – all are subject to stains, wind wear, mold and mildew. And all enjoy extended lives and enjoyment when properly cleaned.

Porches, Patios, Decks – The Full Hardscape

Whether concrete, brick, stone or masonry of any kind, your house’s hardscape is a key component of the visual impact your home makes on every observer. Including on you, each and every time you return home! Hardscape power washing brings a good return, because it is relatively inexpensive, and a thorough cleaning can make any hardscape look bright and new.

Outdoor Kitchens & The Entertainment Center

Family, friends, and business associates – in fact, any guest with an appetite – will appreciate the refresh and renewal steps you take around your outdoor entertaining. Whether it’s the gas grill, the tables and chairs, stainless steel cabinets, refrigerators, or so many more items, the use and enjoyment from your hard-earned investment will increase many-X when you get them ready for Winter. And when Spring does finally arrive again you will appreciate that your cleaning is already done!

Gutters & Leaders

Your home’s gutters and leaders deserve special mention, even though they are a part of your house’s structure, which we discussed above. Why? Because they are an integral part of maintaining the very soundness of your house. Cleaning gutters and leaders on an annual basis now will prevent bigger expense in the future, caused by water attacking your foundation. They’re easy to overlook but critical to include.

Cleaning & Setup Lawn And Patio Furniture

Shrink Wrapping Lawn and Patio furniture is fast becoming an annual tradition in Monmouth County, NJ. Then in the Spring the furniture is uncovered and set-up again for the new entertaining season. Shrink-Wrapping doesn’t only provide seasonal storage protection, it is an important part of keeping and protecting valuables over the long term, too. (It also protects our personal possessions from prying eyes, as well.)

When the warm weather reappears in the Spring, simply removing the Shrink-Wrap reveals a clean and fresh item ready to be used and enjoyed for another season, without any additional effort.

Selecting A Pressure-Washing Provider

When you decide to engage a professional washing provider there are a few things to keep in mind. The primary criteria should never be price alone. Yes, consider the financial aspects of each proposal that you review, but the low-cost provider price-wise, is almost never the lowest cost provider on an all-in basis. 

The most important criterion for predicting future performance is past performance! That is why reviewing at least three references for each provider is critical to forming an effective partnership. 

When you decide to evaluate your Pressure Washing options in Monmouth County, New Jersey be sure to include All Clean Exteriors, the premier provider of Shrink-Wrapping and Power Washing services.

Call today at (732) 570-4923