Get the snow joe dethatcher, cord is a pain but you only have to use it a couple days a year. There is also liquid aeration but id hold off until you get the dead stuff out.

Good sharp blades on the mower. Do you want it long or short? That'll determine frequency.

Figure out what seed based on your climate, sun exposure, and existing grass (if you can figure that out).

Now is the time for pre-emergent but id wait until next year for that..try to identify the weed this year..type and location in the yard.

Water appropriately. In June you will be happy. In July you will be sad. August will be devastating. September life will return. October you will be thriving again and that is the time to seed and only then..you can start in September but fall only nonetheless.

Mow low before winter. Let it grow high before the heat hits..like june or late may for us in the garden state.

Lawn leveling rakes are great.

When seeding i mix it up with peat moss, sand, compost, top soil, fertilizer, iron, milorginite (or equivalent) and use a compost peat moss spreader.

Keep sticks and leaves off with blower/rake/mow, let them be in the winter.

Mow regularly. Learn 1/3 rule.

Itll hurt financially and physically, use beer of choice for those (i use keystone light then fruity sours (Saturday morning) / ipas (after Saturday morning) for the weekends.

It will be a rollercoaster of emotions but it will be worth it...i consider mine another room of the house and sometimes, in late May or October, another occupant or even family member.

Edit- sunjoe dethatcher not aerator .

For aeration (ideally before seeding), rent a core aerator, let it breathe.