The leaves are changing colour, and the days are getting shorter. The cooler days and Winter will be just around the corner. It is essential to prepare your home for the change in weather. As your most important investment, you must maintain it carefully. This will ensure that the harsh weather will not cause any damages to your home. By spending a small amount of time and money on fall maintenance, you will potentially save thousands of dollars on repairs. When you maintain your home, you will also see the value increase.

Make Your Plan, One Step at a Time

Develop a plan and take on a project each week. This will allow you to spend time enjoying the Fall but also having your home ready. Fall maintenance should be part of your yearly plan to look after your home. Take a walk inside and outside of your home. Make a list of areas that require maintenance.

Outside Maintenance

Consider every way that rain or snow could get into your home. Check from the roof to the foundation. Look at the roof for loose or missing shingles. Have the chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional. Clean the gutters and consider installing gutter guards. Look at the outside of the home for loose bricks, missing siding, or chipped paint. During a heavy rainstorm, go outside and slowly walk around your home. Check that the water runs away from the house and look for any holes that water or animals could enter the home. Turn off outdoor taps and inside if there is a shut-off valve. Check that all the doors close properly and that they will keep the rain and snow out. Clean your A/C unit and cover it. 

Prepare The Garden 

Have your lawn irrigation system drained and checked. Conduct winter maintenance of the pool and hot tub. Cut your grass, and if possible, mulch to supply nutrition back to the lawn. Remove spent annual flowers and vegetables. Cover the shrubs with burlap to protect them. Inspect all trees to make sure they are healthy. Do not prune trees or shrubs until just before the Spring growing season.

Inside Maintenance 

Make sure that the inside of your home is also ready for Winter. Have your furnace and humidifier checked by a professional. Consider getting your heating ducts cleaned. Check your sump pump, review the maintenance manual, and follow the directions. Have any fireplaces or heating appliances that burn gas, oil or wood maintained by a professional. Check all smoke and CO2 detectors and check and clean the dryer vent. Insulate any exposed pipes in unheated areas and remove window A/C units. 

Now You Are Ready

By developing and following a fall maintenance checklist, you can be prepared for the coming change of seasons. When you have completed these tasks, you will have prepared your home and potentially saved yourself thousands of dollars and increased the value of your home.