SPRING has just kicked off, which can only mean one thing — the Christmas countdown has begun. Before long, shops will have their Yuletide decorations up and carols will be playing. But while retailers often get an early jump start on Christmas, it’s easy to get caught off guard at home.

Four months sounds like plenty of time to check things off the to-do list, but the clock is ticking to complete any renovations before Santa (and the extended family) comes to town. Data from Hipages, an online portal to find tradies, shows that when spring heats up, so does the demand for trades in NSW.

According to the website, October is a hot month for installing airconditioners, getting the lawns mowed, spraying for pests and putting in fly screens.

For anything more extensive, there’s no time to lose.