The warmer the weather gets this time of year, the more homeowners start to think about spring cleaning. This annual process removes from the home clutter and stale air that has accumulated throughout the winter. In addition to this process, homeowners may consider signing up for a spring home inspection, which can reveal many problems that could have arisen during cold winters and wet springs.

Across most of the country, including the Washington, D.C. area, winter did not pack its normal punch. Homeowners who installed energy-efficient heating and insulation last summer to prepare for the cold weather may not have seen quite the return on investment that they were expecting. Fortunately for them, warm weather led to lower home heating bills, which are often the largest home energy expense.

Using those savings, consumers can hire a D.C. home inspector to give their homes a thorough walkthrough to determine any areas that may need addressing. Some parts of the homes, including gutters and sump pumps, could have been overwhelmed by spring rainfalls and may require attention from homeowners.

"Winter is harsh, but it's also dry, and the weather is somewhat predictable," HGTV personality and home contractor Mike Holmes writes for The National Post. "But, spring brings all kinds of weather. Some days will be unusually warm and others bitterly cold. We'll have rain one day, sunshine the next, and – I hate to say it – maybe even more snowfalls."

Holmes also suggest that homeowners consider working on the exteriors of their homes, especially roofs, in the spring, since temperatures are not yet excessive and contractors will be better able to make necessary repairs.

Spring is also the time when property owners can improve home energy efficiency in advance of the warm summer months. For example, some may clean their clothes in an energy-efficient washing machine and then hang clothing outside to reduce dryer usage.