Spring has fully arrived in South Jersey, and for homeowners, that means the annual checklist is staring you in the face. The good news: most of these tasks are straightforward. The better news: knocking them out in May means you're not scrambling in August when the summer heat hits.

We asked local South Jersey contractors what they consistently see homeowners miss each spring. Here's the list they gave us.

The May Checklist

• Schedule your HVAC tune-up now. HVAC companies in South Jersey are booking out fast as temperatures climb. Don't wait until your system strains on the first 90-degree day. A tune-up now costs $80–150; an emergency repair in July costs considerably more.
• Check your sump pump before June rains. South Jersey gets significant rain in June. Pour a bucket of water into the sump pit and make sure the pump activates and clears. If it hesitates, replace it — they typically run $150–300 installed.
• Inspect your roof and gutters. After a winter of freeze-thaw cycles, look for lifted shingles, cracked flashing around chimneys, and clogged gutters. Gutters full of debris mean water backing up against your fascia and soffits.
• Test your outdoor outlets and GFCI protection. Wet winter conditions can degrade outdoor receptacles. Reset GFCI breakers and test each outlet before you run outdoor power for landscaping or pools.
• Treat your deck or outdoor wood surfaces. Before the summer sun sets in, clean and seal your deck, pergola, or wood fencing. Waiting until August means the wood has already started to dry and crack.
• Check window and door seals. Warm weather is the right time to check caulking around windows and doors. Failed seals let conditioned air out in summer — you'll feel it in your utility bill.
• Service your lawnmower and irrigation system. First mow of the season reveals what winter did to your equipment. Sharpen blades, check irrigation heads for winter freeze damage, and adjust spray patterns before your lawn gets its first summer stress.
• Inspect your dryer vent. South Jersey sees more dryer fires than most homeowners realize. A clogged lint duct is a fire hazard. Clean or replace dryer vent ducting annually — it's a $50–100 job that can save your house.
• Walk your foundation perimeter. Look for new cracks, settling, or areas where water might pool against the foundation. Catching water infiltration early costs far less than fixing a wet basement in August.
• Change your HVAC filter. If you haven't swapped it since fall, do it now. A clean filter going into summer cooling season extends the life of your system and improves air quality for the months you're running the AC.

Local contractors consistently say the same thing: South Jersey homeowners who do a basic May walkthrough save themselves significant money over the course of the year. The calls for emergency repairs in July and August almost always involve systems or structures that showed early warning signs in spring — and nobody caught them.

The Neighborhood Gazette will be covering local home services contractors in upcoming issues. To nominate a South Jersey contractor for a business spotlight, fill out our nomination form.