In the DC area, renovating a lawn is a September/October project. Grass that you seed this spring isn't likely to survive the summer. Sorry.

Thanks. Come fall, how would you consider my plan to go forward?

Ceclily's right. But using that plan in...well, late summer, sounds great.

1) Just mind that you don't move the grade to adjust water toward the house or pavement. Seriously, you'd be surprised...

4) You won't need starter fertilizer, but you might want to get starter fertilizer with Mesotrione. It's a pre-emergent weed killer that will keep weeds down when you seed. If you have weed issues, it'll really help. If you don't, skip the starter fertilizer completely; you almost certainly don't need it.

6) Straw tends to carry weed seeds, even the "seedless" stuff. I tend to recommend either compost or peat moss instead, up to about 1/4" inch. Both also work into your soil and improve it, and neither need to be removed afterward. They're also more attractive (usually black and brown, respectively). For that small area, you won't need that much.

I'd actually set it for Labor Day weekend in your area, or the weekend after. Yes, it's early. It's still hot. That's the point. The seed will germinate faster, grow faster in the heat, and get a few weeks of warm weather to develop before the cool hits (and evenings will still be cooler even then). Then it has all of fall to develop root systems. Your "winter" (which tends to be pretty mild, as mine does--this year being odd) isn't too hard to survive.

October can present some challenges as it's a bit late for planting. Fescue and rye do fine, but bluegrasses in mixed seeds struggle.

For this spring and summer, I'd either ignore that as best you can, or practice proper care. Water rarely and deeply, and feed on Memorial Day when you should. You'd normally feed again on Labor Day, but that will be close to the renovation.

That area is close to a tree, so it'll always struggle a little bit.

Thanks! Would aerating be necessary?If so, before or after topsoil/slope adjustments?

While you sure can if you want to, it's usually overkill and not necessary. I don't usually recommend it for most soils, unless they were compacted by having trucks or other heavy things (like ditch installation equipment for irrigation systems) run over them. Then yes, absolutely, aerate it heavily, several times, back and forth.

Save the time and the money, you're going to be tired enough from just this!

Then by all means, reward yourself by being "lazy." Don't bother, the grass seed doesn't care. Covering it with peat or compost will be more than enough and, even if you don't bother with that, it'll sprout. This is not touchy stuff.

well, I couldn’t wait for fall!

March:

June:

It's lovely, Steve. Nice work. Now the heat's setting in so watering enough this summer is your next challenge. What height is your mower deck set for?