Phoenix Fall Home Checklist: What to Book After Monsoon

Monsoon season officially ended on September 30. The dust storms are behind us, the nights are finally cool, and for the next few months Phoenix is the place everyone else wishes they lived.

It is also the best window of the year to catch up on the house. Pros have more room on their calendars now than they will in a few weeks, once winter residents are back and the holidays fill everyone's schedule. Here is what to look at, and what to book.

Clean up what monsoon left behind

A summer of haboobs and storms leaves a film on almost everything outside.

Windows. Dust and rain spots build up fast after a storm season. A window cleaning now means clear glass for the months you will actually have the windows open.

Solar panels. Dust on panels cuts how much power they make, and it does not all wash off on its own. If your panels have not been cleaned since spring, book a cleaning before the shorter winter days make every hour of sun count for more.

Patios and driveways. Pressure washing takes care of the mud stains and dust that settled into concrete and pavers over the summer.

Gutters, if you have them. Storm debris collects fast. Clear them before the winter rains.

Get the yard ready for winter

Bermuda grass goes dormant and turns brown once it gets cold. If you want a green lawn through winter, it needs to be overseeded with rye, and the window for that is now: once nighttime temperatures drop into the 60s, usually October into mid-November.

Every lawn crew in the Valley is working that same window, so book lawn care sooner rather than later.

Artificial turf needs attention too. A summer of heat, pets and dust leaves it smelling and looking worn, and a turf cleaning brings it back before you start spending more time outside.

Keep up with the pool

A pool needs less in winter than in July, not nothing. Cooler water slows algae and the pump can run fewer hours, but leaves, dust and the occasional storm still land in it.

If the pool went untended over the summer, it probably needs a full cleanup first. Pool cleaning is easier to schedule now than in March, when everyone opens theirs back up at once.

Check for pests

Scorpions and other pests stay active on warm fall nights, and some go looking for shelter indoors as it cools down. A fall pest control treatment around the outside of the house is a good way to head that off before you spend more time with the doors open.

Get the inside ready before guests arrive

Thanksgiving is about three weeks away. If you are hosting, these are worth booking now rather than the week before:

• A deep clean. House cleaning books up fast in the weeks before a holiday.
• The guest room and garage. Home organization gets a cluttered room usable again in a day.
• Whatever has piled up. Junk removal clears out the garage or the side yard in one trip.
• The trash bins. They sat in 110-degree heat all summer. A bin cleaning takes care of the smell.

Back for the winter?

If your home has been closed up since spring, a few things almost always need attention when you get back.

Start with the pool and a deep clean. Dust gets into a closed house, and a pool with no one checking on it rarely makes it through a Phoenix summer looking good. Book both for the week you arrive, so you are not living with either.

After that, walk the yard, look for signs of pests, and check whether the windows and solar panels took a beating from the dust storms while you were away.

When to book what

Four ways to book it on Naibrly

Naibrly gives you a few different ways to book, depending on how soon you need the work and who you want doing it.

Bundles let several homes in the same area express interest in the same service on the same day. When several nearby homes need the same thing, providers can often offer better pricing. Fall is a natural fit, because your whole street needs overseeding and window cleaning at the same time. Bundles are scheduled at least 72 hours ahead, so plan a few days out.

NOW shows providers in your area who are available right now. Good for the cleaning you forgot to book until the day before your guests land.

Nearby shows providers already working close to your home. If a pool tech is two houses down, they may be able to fit you in on the same trip.

Booked is for when you already know who you want. Send that provider a job request and confirm the details together.

For more on how each one works, read 4 ways to book a home service on Naibrly, or see Phoenix services to get started.

Frequently asked questions

When should I overseed my lawn in Phoenix?

Most Phoenix lawns are overseeded with winter rye once nighttime temperatures settle into the 60s, which usually lands between early October and mid-November. Bermuda grass goes dormant and turns brown in the cold months, so overseeding is what keeps a lawn green through winter. Book early, because every lawn crew in the Valley is working the same window.

Do I still need pool service in the winter in Phoenix?

Yes, a Phoenix pool still needs regular service in winter, just less of it. Cooler water slows algae and the pump can run fewer hours, but leaves, dust and the odd winter storm still end up in the water. A pool that sat untended over the summer usually needs a full cleanup before it settles back into a lighter routine.

What should I do first when I get back to my Phoenix home for the winter?

Start with the pool and a deep clean, because those are the two things a home closed up over the summer almost always needs. After that, look at the yard, check for signs of pests, and clean the windows and solar panels if dust storms hit while you were gone. Booking the pool and the cleaning for the week you arrive saves you from living with both.

How do Naibrly Bundles work for fall services?

Bundles let several homes in the same area express interest in the same service on the same day, and providers can often offer better pricing for the grouped work. Fall is a good time for them because whole streets need the same things at once, like overseeding and window cleaning. Bundles are scheduled at least 72 hours ahead, so they work best when you plan a few days out.