As summer approaches, ensuring your home is ready for the season is essential for both comfort and safety. While some home maintenance projects can be costly, there are several you can tackle yourself to save money and still get your home summer-ready. Here’s a guide to help you decide which tasks you can DIY and which ones are best left to professionals.

DIY Tasks to Prepare Your Home for Summer

Seal Windows and Doors Drafts can let your cool air conditioning escape, compromising your comfort and increasing your energy bills. Use weather stripping, caulk, and draft stoppers to seal windows and doors. These easy and renter-friendly DIY tasks can improve your home’s energy efficiency and keep cool air inside during hot months.

Set Up an Air Purifier and Change Air Filters Air quality is important year-round, but warm temperatures often bring increased pollutants like pollen and particulate matter. Air purifiers can capture these pollutants, allowing you to breathe easier. For optimal protection, consider a UV air purifier that eliminates harmful particles such as pathogens, bacteria, pet dander, and dust. Also, remember to change air filters in your air conditioners and HVAC systems regularly.

Maintain Your Lawn and Garden Regular mowing, weeding, and watering can keep your lawn and garden vibrant throughout summer. Planting drought-resistant plants and using mulch can reduce water usage and maintenance time. Installing a rain barrel can help conserve water while keeping your garden hydrated. Check with your local government for rebate programs on water-saving technologies.

Install a Smart Thermostat A smart thermostat helps keep your HVAC system running efficiently and reduces energy costs. Like a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat allows you to schedule temperature changes for convenience. With added sensors and Wi-Fi connectivity, you can control the thermostat remotely, optimizing temperatures and reducing stress on your system.

Tasks Best Left to the Experts

Tune Up Your HVAC System Your HVAC system is crucial for maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature. A yearly professional tune-up ensures the system runs efficiently and helps prevent costly breakdowns. Poorly handled HVAC tune-ups can lead to lost efficiency and increased costs, and an amateur job poses a serious risk of injury. Trust a professional to clean ducts, check for refrigerant leaks, and ensure all components are in good working order.

Trim and Remove Trees Large tree limbs can become hazardous during summer storms, posing a risk to your home and its occupants. Professionals have the equipment and expertise to safely trim or remove trees without endangering themselves or your property.

Inspect and Repair the Roof A professional inspection can identify potential issues like loose shingles, leaks, or structural damage. Experts have the tools and knowledge to conduct repairs safely and ensure your roof can withstand summer storms.

Clean the Gutters Keeping your gutters clean is essential to prevent water damage. However, this task can be dangerous. According to the CDC, more than 500,000 people are treated for ladder-related injuries each year, with about 300 fatalities. Given the potential risk, it is highly recommended to enlist professionals for gutter cleaning.

Preparing your home for summer can be manageable and cost-effective if you know which tasks to DIY and which to delegate to professionals. Use these tips to ensure your home is safe and comfortable all season long.

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Winter is behind us, and spring is in full bloom. As you dream about your favorite beach, lake, or mountain trail, you might wonder, “What if we lived there?” The COVID-19 pandemic initially sparked a surge in interest for second homes among retirees. Ian Katz, a real estate agent in New York City, noted, “The pandemic brought people closer. They want exposure to multiple climates while staying connected with family.”

Since 2020, the purchase of second homes has slowed due to rising mortgage interest rates. However, high mortgage rates are not necessarily a deal breaker for retirees and near-retirees. Katz explained that these groups are less likely to need large, long-term loans, often using their savings to buy new properties.

If you’re considering a second home, think carefully before making this significant purchase. The wrong property can turn your dream into a nightmare.

1. Prices Are Near All-Time Highs

Even amid a real estate slump, homes in desirable vacation spots remain pricey. Katz warns that many towns now have full-time remote workers competing with retirees. Be conservative about budgeting and ensure you can manage ongoing costs for the new home, even if your income drops.

Mark Charnet, a financial adviser in Pompton, N.J., cautions that owning a second home could limit your ability to travel elsewhere. “You’re tied to the same place. Unless you love the idea of having your own home and bed in each location, it might not be a good idea.” Renting homes through Airbnb or Vrbo might be a better option for you.

2. Borrowing Is More Challenging

Mortgage rates are typically 0.5% to 0.75% higher for a second home compared to a primary home. Currently, mortgage rates are just shy of the highest they’ve been in 20 years. Expect to make a down payment of at least 10% on a conventional mortgage for a second home, though a larger down payment could help you qualify for a lower interest rate, says Katz.

3. A Test Drive Leads to a Smarter Purchase

Katz has seen retirees rush into second home purchases without fully understanding the area, leading to regrets. “Get a hotel or Airbnb for an extended stay first,” he advises. “Sample the daily vibe.”

Consider how the property will meet your long-term retirement needs. “Even if you run marathons today, that might not be the case 20 years from now,” Katz notes. Think about how you’d manage with less mobility. How many steps are needed to get inside? Is the bedroom on the ground floor? Check if the local homeowners association allows mobility upgrades like a wheelchair ramp.

4. Upkeep and Maintenance Add Up

Charnet points out that people often underestimate the annual upkeep and maintenance costs of a second property. “They budget for the mortgage and taxes, but that’s just scratching the surface,” he says. Maintenance expenses can be high, especially for older homes. Charnet, who owns 25 rental properties, sets aside 7% of the home’s value annually for maintenance and repairs. For a $300,000 property, that’s $21,000 a year.

5. Property Taxes Can Be a Nasty Surprise

States like Florida, Nevada, and Texas don’t have income taxes but can have high property taxes. Katz suggests checking how property taxes will be assessed after you buy. Some localities adjust taxes based on the new selling price, which can be significantly higher than what previous owners paid.

6. State Income Taxes Depend on the 183-Day Rule

Buying a second home in a low- or no-income tax state could reduce your overall tax bill, but it depends on how long you live there. Many states, including New York, follow the 183-day rule, meaning if you spend more than 183 days in New York, you’ll be taxed as a resident.

7. Renting Is Possible but Not Always Easy

Renting out your unused property can generate extra income, but short-term rentals can be challenging. Tim Touchette, owner of Attache Corporate Housing in Washington D.C., says leases are typically a year or longer. If you’re away for six months, finding a renter for that exact period can be difficult. Managing rentals means acting as a part-time landlord or hiring a property manager, which costs about 8% to 12% of the monthly rent. Check if the building has rules restricting rentals.

8. Tax Breaks Depend on Usage

You can deduct home mortgage interest and property taxes for a second home if you live in it at least 14 days a year or 10% of the days you rent it out, whichever is greater. Renting a second home for up to 14 days per year doesn’t require you to pay income taxes on the rental income. For longer rentals, you’ll owe income tax on the rental income but can qualify for more tax breaks, such as the cost of repairs, maintenance, insurance, and property management.

When you sell your second home for a profit, you’ll owe taxes on the entire gain. There isn’t an exclusion like for selling your primary residence. However, if you own the home for at least a year, you’ll owe long-term capital gains, which are much lower than the income tax rate.

9. Insurance and an LLC Protect Your Investment

You’ll need a homeowner’s insurance policy for your second home. Charnet suggests getting quotes from local insurers, as they may offer better rates. If you plan to rent out your second home, consider setting up a limited liability corporation (LLC) to own the property. This protects your primary residence and savings in case of a lawsuit.

10. Inherited Properties Aren’t Always Welcome

Vacation homes can become a point of contention among heirs. Charnet advises considering whether all your heirs are interested in the property. If not, you could adjust your estate to ensure those who aren’t interested receive other assets, such as cash, investments, or life insurance payouts.

In summary, buying a second home requires careful consideration of financial, logistical, and practical factors. Make sure to evaluate all aspects before making this significant investment.

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Since Salathe founded the Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative (LICI) in 2020, the organization has coordinated the rescue of more than 62,000 irises to preserve and perpetuate the five species native to south Louisiana wetlands. This nonprofit relocates irises in danger of being destroyed to safer locations, especially places where the public can enjoy the flowers. Each flower is dug up and replanted one by one, a labor of love for the volunteers and organizers.

The LICI frequently rescues irises from areas slated for commercial development. One such property in LaPlace, zoned for commercial use and up for sale, has allowed LICI to harvest irises for years. “This site is so perfect for what we do,” Salathe said. “‘No iris left behind’ is our motto.”

Salathe secures permits to replant the irises along swamp boardwalks, nature trails, parks, and wildlife refuges throughout southeast Louisiana. Although planting season generally runs from October to December, last year’s drought delayed it. Despite these challenges, LICI’s dedication remains unwavering.

On March 2, during LICI’s last large-scale event of the season, volunteers replanted more than 500 rescued irises in Assumption Parish at the future site of the Pierre Part/Belle River Museum and at a nearby kayak launch in Veterans Park. The fruits of their labor are visible when irises bloom in late March and early April. The Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative maintains an online Google map of the 20 best places to see Louisiana irises in their natural habitat. The organization’s Facebook page provides updates on the blooms.

“At one time, there were irises in every ditch in south Louisiana,” Salathe said. “Everybody looked forward to the bloom as part of the culture.” Herbicides, hurricanes, saltwater intrusion, and other factors have made the Louisiana state wildflower much harder to find. “Out of sight, out of mind,” Salathe said. “Our goal is to get the Louisiana iris back into the culture and consciousness of the New Orleans area.”

Now retired, Salathe co-owned a residential construction company for 21 years. But for a quarter-century, his main “hobby” was restoring a clear-cut parcel of long-leaf pine forest he owned in Tangipahoa Parish. A decade ago, he shifted his flora focus to irises. In 2014, he joined the Greater New Orleans Iris Society, the Society for Louisiana Irises, and the American Iris Society. By 2020, he had launched the Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative as a non-membership organization. He depends on volunteers to supply manpower and partners with various community organizations.

Over the past century, crossbreeding has produced hundreds of “cultivars,” the hybrid irises of many colors that populate most home gardens. However, LICI’s big-picture goal is to build a reserve of irises for long-term wetlands restoration projects such as the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. “It would take decades for native vegetation to rebuild itself in newly created wetlands,” Salathe said. “Somebody needs to get out there with boots on the ground and put it in.” Getting native Louisiana irises added to the USDA’s list of plants approved for purchase by marsh restoration companies would help.

“These irises are going to double in number every year,” Salathe said. “So four or five years from now, when the restoration of the marshes and swamps really kicks in, we’ll have a base of plants that we’ll be able to add into the mix to try to reconstruct what used to be there.”

During a February rescue in LaPlace, Salathe gave volunteers a tutorial on swamp safety and explained how to dig up an iris without damaging its thick root. Veteran volunteers like David Duvic and Connie Adams were already familiar with the process, spending hours picking weeds from iris root clusters.

“They’re helping me by getting our goals accomplished,” Salathe said. “We’re helping them by giving them a diverse experience that maybe they wouldn’t have otherwise. It’s a win-win deal.”

Christopher “Cairo” Jackson, a Limitless Vistas grants coordinator, noted that working with LICI allows people who have spent much of their life in metropolitan New Orleans to see a different side of their home. Volunteers managed to pluck 2,000 plants from the muck in three hours, which Salathe then stored in his garage, watering the irises twice daily until they were replanted at Nicholls State.

Elard Phillips, a Limitless Vistas board member on his first LICI rescue, admitted the work was “a little challenging,” but he added, “years from now, it will be appreciated.”

The Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative, under Salathe’s passionate leadership, is a testament to the power of community and dedication to preserving the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Louisiana’s irises. Through their efforts, they are not only saving plants but also nurturing the spirit of conservation and appreciation for the natural world.

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