Here are some helpful tips to help keep your home looking sharp. (This is not intended as advice, nor am I suggesting for you to do all the items listed. This is just informational and you should seek professional help when you encounter a job outside of your experience).
 

 

Interior
 

Service your heat and a/c
 
It's a good time to get a service check on your HVAC system -- both your heating AND a/c. You'll have an easier time getting a professional to your home before the mad rush of summer when air conditioning units from hither to yon break down. A good HVAC service professional may, for example, find a small problem like a leak in the coolant, which can ultimately end up costing you hundreds of dollars if left unchecked

 Clean your dryer vent.
 
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, clothes dryers are associated with over 15,000 house fires a year. When dryer vents get clogged, overheating results and that combination of heat and lint is like a flaming match in a forest. And even if you never experience a fire, your dryer will naturally run less efficiently when it's clogged. So avoid catastrophe - AND avoid buying a new dryer. Simply give your dryer vent a good cleaning. 
 
Clean and lubricate sliding glass door and window tracks.
Windows and doors can be one of the most expensive elements of a home, and they need to be maintained or they'll have to be replaced. So if they're sticking or squeaking, you need to lubricate the tracks right away to save yourself thousands of dollars in replacement costs

Check and clean your tile grout.
Time for that black, dingy tile grout to go! Mold and mildew are the most common causes of it in the bathroom... and food stains and foot traffic are usual culprits in other areas of the home. For some stains, simple ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda can do the trick. However, you MAY need to use some special solvents to restore your grout's beauty. (And a toothbrush with a little elbow grease work wonders together!) As you clean, you may find areas that need patching; you may even need to hire a professional to help address a more significant issue.
 
Clean leaves from flowerbeds to prevent fungus growth.
Don't let leaves decompose in your flower beds-- sure, they can be a source of natural nutrients, but they can also block water from entering the soil and can even promote fungal growth among your soon-to-emerge plants. To protect your plants, take a rake and remove the leaves that have collected during the winter. By removing the leaves, you'll promote better air circulation among your plants and allow for better light penetration.

Replace filter in your heating and A/C system.
Filter, shmilter. Why do we have to change those pesky things so regularly? Well, the filter in your HVAC system has two main functions-first, it improves your home's indoor air quality. (By the way, the EPA estimates that the air inside your home can be 2 to 5 times WORSE than the air outside!) And second, it can keep your entire HVAC system clean. Dirt can clog your furnace's secondary heat exchanger or your a/c unit's evaporator coil. Either way, air flow gets restricted, and can cause overheating and premature failure of parts and even the entire system 

Check Bathroom for Leaks.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the average home loses 10,000 gallons of water a YEAR to leaks. That's enough to fill a swimming pool! Bathrooms are common spots for water leaks, so check bathtubs, sinks and toilets to ensure they're not dripping and that pipes aren't leaking. Repairing leaks can also help you save as much as 10 percent on your utility bill 

Trip circuit breakers and reset ground fault interruptors.
Flickering lightsin your bedroom? Persistent burning smell coming from an appliance? No, it's not a poltergeist... but it COULD be a faulty wire or other electrical problem. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, electrical fires annually cause $1 billion in damage, injure over 1,000 and claim more than 350 lives. AND these fires are most common during the winter months when lighting, heating and appliance use is at its peak. So trip your circuit breakers monthly during the winter and don't forget to push the "test" and "reset"buttons on your GFI outlets regularly to make sure they're working as they should be.

Clean your carpets.
Bet you didn't know that the oldest carpet ever found was well over 2,000 years old? This well-preserved "Pazyryk" carpet from 500 B.C. was found in 1949. While the carpeting in your home may not last quite that long (though some estimate that modern-day carpet fibers will last for 10,000 years in a landfill!), you can definitely extend its life by vacuuming it regularly and cleaning it every 12-18 months.
 
 
 

Exterior
 

 
Repair the gaps around doors and windows.
More than 20 percent of the air that enters and exits your home does so around your windows and doors. To keep your heated (or cooled) air inside where it belongs, get some caulk and weather stripping and get to work. Sealing your windows and doors will help reduce your energy consumption and save money. It can also help delay replacing your windows and doors, which can cost thousands. If you're already in the market for new ENERGY STAR windows and a better exterior door 
 
Look for evidence of termites.
Each year termites cause more than $5 BILLION in damage to homes. And guess what? The destruction they leave behind isn't covered by most insurance policies. You can nip these little pests in their buds (so to speak) by spotting and treating them early. Right now they're swarming, so if you see winged termites in your home or find small, papery wings around windows and doors, it's a clear sign you likely have a termite infestation.

Check your crawl space for water damage, animals and more.
Claustrophobic? Then you may not like this... You're about to find out why the area under your home is called a crawl space. It's important to regularly inspect this area, but it can keep some dirty little secrets. Look for pooling water or wet spots. Both can create foundation problems, and moisture in the crawl space can promote mold growth. Also look for live animals or signs of their presence. Word to the wise: tuck your pants into your boots to keep any insects or animals from crawling up your leg.
 
Check your toilet's hoses and supply valves for leaks.
SPOILER ALERT: The water in your toilet tank does NOT get there through osmosis, magic or miracles. It's actually delivered by a simple but important supply hose that's typically located at the back of the commode. Unfortunately this hose and the supply valve that connects it to your home's plumbing can deteriorate and begin to leak. Next time you're in your bathroom, take a second to look behind your toilet to ensure you don't have a leak.
 
Close foundation vents.
To seal, or not to seal; that is the question. Foundation vents help keep your crawlspace dry and mold-and mildew-free. However, the cold draft these vents create during the winter can cause your home to be less energy-efficient and can put your pipes at risk if they're in your crawlspace. Bottom line: It's safe to close your foundation vents for the coldest months of the year and, in fact, it may be a big mistake -- energy-wise -- to keep them open. Find other ways you may be letting heat escape from your home:
 
 
 

Landscaping
 

 
Plant roses before spring arrives.
A mature and beautiful rose garden may not add monetary value to your home, but the aesthetic value it brings can enhance your living space and may even make your home more saleable when the time comes. And the start of spring is a great time to plant roses. If you plant a rose bush in a container, don't worry if the ground is cold... as long as it's not frozen. However, a bare-root rose shouldn't be planted until the air and ground temperatures are above freezing. 

Clean leaves from flowerbeds to prevent fungus growth.
Don't let leaves decompose in your flower beds-- sure, they can be a source of natural nutrients, but they can also block water from entering the soil and can even promote fungal growth among your soon-to-emerge plants. To protect your plants, take a rake and remove the leaves that have collected during the winter. By removing the leaves, you'll promote better air circulation among your plants and allow for better light penetration, too. 
 
Check you irrigation system.
Frost and freezing temperatures can damage your home's irrigation system, so check it for leaks before using it this spring. According to the EPA, if an irrigation system with a pressure setting of 60 pounds per square inch develops a crack the thickness of a dime, you could waste as much as 6,300 gallons of water a MONTH! Not to mention that irrigation leaks can cause structural problems if they occur close to your home

Prune your roses.
Roses are red, violets are blue. Time to prune roses so they will bloom soon. (Okay, bad rhyme, but good advice.) Regular pruning IS imperative to the overall health of your rose bushes. It'll eliminate weak branches, prevent overcrowding and open the bush for additional sunlight and better air circulation. When pruning, cut at a 45 degree angle, and always cut AWAY from the bush. When you're finished, remember to paint all of the open "wounds." Your roses need this additional step to fight off diseases and pests

Spot treat winter weeds.
Winter weeds keep lawn enthusiasts tossing and turning at night, and these weeds are especially bad when there's no grass to hide them. They can leave holes in the lawn's natural turf when it comes out of dormancy, which can open the door for crabgrass and other summer weeds. Mowing and simple spot treatments can help.

Prune your trees.
Did you know that there are over 20,000 different kinds of trees in the world? Twenty-THOUSAND! No matter how many species you have in your own yard, though, now's the time to prune all but your maple and birch trees. The pull of gravity and the wind's forces can cause a tree to grow more on one side than the other, so keep that in mind as you get out the shears.

Cut and Stack Next Year's Firewood.
Got a serious case of cabin fever? Don't let below-normal temps keep you from getting outside! Now's a perfect time to begin cutting and stacking your firewood for next winter. Just be sure to stack your firewood off the ground so circulating air can continue to dry the wood. Of course, if splitting and stacking firewood is more than you want to do -- AND you'd prefer to stay inside, thank you very much -- think about hiring a handyman.

Apply cedar mulch after consistently freezing temperatures.
Oh, baby, it is cold outside... in most of the country, anyway! And although your perennials may be out of sight, they shouldn't be out of mind. In order to protect them and ensure they come back next spring, spread 4-5 inches of cedar or organic mulch over them. And if there's more than 2 inches of snow on the ground, wait until it melts to that level to avoid ice building up underneath. By the way, the mulch should be applied after the first 2-3 days of sustained freezing temperatures and should be pulled back in the Spring so it doesn't suffocate your plants.