No need to go overboard – those new kitchen benchtops can wait until next year. Completing these few simple jobs around the house will impress your guests and help you relax on the big day.

Show your green thumb

The worst bit first – weeding. Although the winter soursobs are long gone, inspect your garden and get rid of any remaining weeds. Some you can remove by hand but if any need spraying, use an eco-friendly product. You can even kill some weeds with plain old boiling water.

Now grab your spade, shears or line trimmer and make those lawn edges as straight as an arrow. Next, start the mower and turn your lawn into a work of art. If a backyard cricket match is planned, as tempting as it is to replicate the Adelaide Oval pitch, don’t cut the lawn too short, or it may suffer in the summer heat. Once you’ve cut the grass, add some fast-acting fertiliser if you want a burst of green, and water your lawn thoroughly.

To give your garden a flush of colour, head to your local nursery for some petunias, marigolds or other summer annuals. Plant them in a sunny spot and enjoy their beauty for weeks. You could even add a fresh layer of mulch for some garden pizzazz.

Remember to prune trees and bushes and remove any dead flower heads from your plants. Then sweep the paths and rake up any garden litter.

Make your windows sparkle

Cleaning windows makes such a difference to the look of your home, from inside and out. Mix equal amounts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle for a simple, eco-friendly window cleaner. Just spritz it on your windows and wipe clean with a microfibre cloth. Give the window a second wipe with the other side of the cloth if you still see streaks.

Another easy option is to spray plain water on your windows and wipe them clean with scrunched-up newspaper – an old-fashioned but effective method.

If you prefer using a squeegee, make sure the blade is in good condition. If it’s deteriorated, purchase a new one before you begin cleaning. Spray your chosen cleaner onto the windows and squeegee from top to bottom, then wipe off any excess with a cloth.

If you have high-up windows use suitable attachments to extend your squeegee’s reach. Be careful – ladder falls are a common cause of serious injury or worse for Australian DIYers, so don’t take any risks. Make sure someone else is home or nearby, and if your ladder won’t reach your windows safely, call in the experts.

Pile on the pressure

If you have paths, driveways or patios covered in dirt or moss, you’ll be amazed at how a pressure cleaner can spruce them up. If you don’t have one of these gadgets, look for a good second-hand one or contact RAA Trade Assist. A new pressure cleaner can cost anywhere from just under $100 to thousands depending on how fancy a model you want. Use it to clean your car and keep your paths and driveways looking schmick.

Spread some biodegradable detergent on the surface to help cut through the dirt and make sure you’re not damaging the surfaces as you go. Don’t use the garden hose (except for rinsing away the dirt). The pressure probably won’t be strong enough to do the job properly and it uses much more water.

Great job. Your guests will be impressed, and you’ll be admiring your nice clean paths and driveways for months.

Light ′em up

Whether you want your house lit up like a Christmas tree or a few Christmas lights draped here and there, be safety conscious. It’s funny watching Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation sliding down roofs, hanging from gutters and sticking 12 plugs into one power point but not so humorous when it happens to you.

Never do work that requires a licensed electrician. Not only could the worst happen to you at that moment, but you risk causing fires and voiding your insurance.

RAA Product and Pricing Manager Roy Lee says RAA Trade Assist can help you find a licensed, reliable electrician.

“Whether it’s installing a ceiling fan to keep your guests cool, or some power points for the Christmas lights, we’ll put you in touch with the right people”, Roy says.

“We can also handle your pressure cleaning and general maintenance needs if you have other things to do for the Christmas gathering.”