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5 household jobs that need to be done over the summer holidays

And the apps to help you do them. - by Laura Barry
  • 07 Jan 2022

The summer holidays isn’t just a time to celebrate Christmas. It’s a period of time when the whole family is usually home together, and all those odd jobs around the house that you’ve been meaning to tackle tend to stare you in the face every time you walk past a crumbling retaining wall or murky pool.

WATCH: How to prepare your garden for summer with Charlie

We spoke to Stuart Tucker, the Chief Customer Officer at hipages about the odd jobs that need to be done this summer, and what apps can help you get those jobs done quicker.

1. Give your garden some love

“A gorgeous lush garden is a sure-fire way to impress your house guests when entertaining over the summer,” says Stuart. “Give your garden a general tidy up, including pruning, trimming and mowing the lawn. Flex your green thumb with the help of the Yates My Garden app. Consider it your 'personal trainer' of the garden world. The app gives you access to qualified horticulturalists that can talk you through anything that’s happening in your garden, such as ID-ing a plant or checking if something's eating your plant. You can take a picture and share via the live chat and the team will help ID and provide further details on what you need to do.”

family mulching branches
Getty

2. Consider a fresh lick of paint

“If you’re seeking a wallet friendly way to create a new look in your home, consider a fresh coat of paint. It’ll make your walls look cleaner and give your interiors a refresh. Try using the Bunnings ‘Get Quotes’ service, where you can source three quotes from qualified tradespeople via hipages to get the paint job done for you.”

3. Make a splash with a sparkling pool

“If you have a pool, you’ll want it to be in tip-top condition as the mercury rises,” says Stuart. “If your pool filter or equipment needs attention, see to it now before your friends and family start commenting on the murky pool water. Try using an app like Blue Connect - Pool Care to track and analyse your pool water by measuring the temperature, pH, the disinfectant concentration and salinity. The app will also notify you in case of any problems.”

man cleaning pool
Getty

4. Service your air conditioning unit

“Ensure you keep cool all season long by servicing your air conditioning unit ahead of the hottest days,” says Stuart. “If you have an internal unit, clear any dust to prevent it performing poorly. External units need to be cleared of leaves and other debris.”

5. Clean up

“It’s usually visitors galore during the summer holidays and most of us like to impress our guests with a beautifully clean house. Before you welcome any visitors, consider hiring a local on-demand cleaner who can give your home a deep clean from top to bottom, including all floors, surfaces and windows,” says Stuart.

“Keep on top of your cleaning for the rest of the holidays by enlisting the whole family to help via Chore Bank. Through this handy app parents can manage all household chores, assigning tasks to family members and a monetary value – such as $2 for taking the bins out. Once a chore is complete, your child can check it off the list and the value is added to their account - a great way to earn pocket money whilst also lending a helping hand!”

man and son washing up
Getty

You might also like:

3 gardening apps 

10 finance apps for smart money management

How to prevent bindiis this summer

  • Garden
  • Tech
Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

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