It’s that time of year when wildlife starts to spring up, the beautiful evening sun shows all the dust flying through the air and allergies are taking a grip on your sinuses. As a renter, what are the easiest ways to make sure you are keeping up your home but staying within the boundaries set by your lease? One of the best ways to make sure your home is staying allergen free and clean is to replace your HVAC filters. Most filters can be found in the walls or ceilings of a home. Simply unhook the door and check the measurements (there are oh so many sizes). Most filters can be found at hardware stores or online. Changing these with the seasons can be an enormous help to anyone who experiences allergies throughout the year.
As tempting as it may be to let the breeze in, keeping windows closed on windy days during peak pollen season can cut back immensely on indoor dust. It may seem to last forever, but there are only a couple weeks where the Triad turns yellow with that lovely dust. If you want to cut back on your heating and cooling bill, using ceiling fans is a great resource. Just make sure you have changed the direction of the fan to the cool setting, to push air down (counterclockwise). This can be an equally useful trick in the winter months, changing the fan to spin clockwise and push air up.
If you are responsible for yard maintenance and mowing, now is the time to start a rhythm. We all know that once your neighbor mows, you have 72 hours to respond. Don’t be that neighbor with the overgrown yard. If you need assistance, there are numerous companies. You can also check Nextdoor as neighborhood teens post frequently about earning some summer pocket money by mowing lawns. Why not give a teenager who is willing to do some manual labor a chance?
Whether you rent or own, home upkeep changes with the seasons. Unfortunately, this seasonal change tends to add more hands-on maintenance. Be sure to check your lease about any tenant responsibilities and reach out to your property management team with any questions!