With graduations, Father’s Day and the end of the school year, June is the official start to summer and often a busy month. It’s also the perfect time to get your house and yard ready for a season of cook-outs, parties, fun and relaxation.

From washing windows to tidying up your yard, doing these tasks now will free up time in the days ahead, so you can enjoy the warm weather with family and friends.

Prepare your guestroom. If you’re expecting overnight guests this summer, prepare your spare room with fresh sheets, pillows, blankets and a bedside lamp.

Wash windows. Brighten up your home (and mood) with clean windows that allow in plenty of natural light.

Lighten up decor. Roll up heavy rugs and replace them with natural fiber rugs or leave your floors bare for a beach-house feel. You can also swap the slipcovers on your furniture for a lighter look.

Clean and check cooling systems. Dust your ceiling fans and reverse their direction (counterclockwise to push cool air down), and schedule maintenance for your central cooling system.

Primp plants. Deadhead blooms to keep them productive. Pull out dead foliage from spring bulbs, but leave daffodil and tulip leaves that are still green as they nourish the bulb to bloom next year.

Mulch flowerbeds. Adding mulch keeps weeds down, helps the ground retain its moisture in the heat and helps your plants to grow.

If you’re planning to sell your home this summer, you’ll want it to look its best. Talk to your real estate agent about any other improvements that could make your home even more attractive to potential buyers.