Tips For Preparing Your Home For Fall & Winter

Unfortunately, summer has come & gone. Now that fall is upon us it is time to get your house ready for the change in weather! Here are our tips for preparing your home for fall & winter!

Roof Maintenance

• Clear out your gutters – remove all the leaves & debris that have built up over the Summer & Fall. Bonus: In early Fall, trim back trees dangling near your roof to avoid the number of leaves that end up in your gutter.
• Do a visual inspection of your roof to make sure there are no compromised areas. It is a lot easier to repair your roof before winter hits.
• Clean your chimney & fireplace
• It is recommended to hire a chimney sweep once a year to remove dangerous soot & debris.
• Click here for 17 tips for preparing your fireplace!

Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning

• Have an HVAC professional clean & inspect your furnace early on in the fall. It’s better to have it repaired before your house turns into an ice box!
• Make sure vents aren’t covered by furniture & give them a little clean!
• Check all windows and doors to verify that there are no leaks.
• Check your carbon monoxide detectors & change the batteries!
• After a long hot summer, your air conditioner is ready to be put to rest. Make sure you get it serviced, change the filters & cover it up to ensure it is ready for use come next summer!

Water Heater

• Drain the water & remove any debris that has built up to ensure it is working efficiently.

Outdoor Faucets & sprinklers

• Follow these steps to prevent your pipes from bursting:
  • Close the inside valve for your outside water supply
  • Drain the inside valve
  • Disconnect the garden hose
  • Open the outside valve to allow any trapped water out
• Click here to view a step by step instructional video!

Get your Winter Supplies Ready

• Make sure your snow blower is working properly. Locate your shovels & any other snow removal products. Ensure all your cars have an ice scraper in them.
• Purchase all your ice melt & snow supplies before the first snow storm hits & the shelves are cleared off.

Lawn Care

• Fertilize your lawn before the first freeze of winter to replenish all the nutrients lost during the hot summer. The fertilizer will remain in the soil & feed your lawn all winter long to ensure your grass is green & lush come spring!
• Make sure your grass is cut short to ensure it does not become a home for mice & small animals looking for a warm place to burrow during the winter.

Selling Your Home Over Winter?

• Get professional photos of your backyard (especially if you have a pool or nice landscaping) that you can blow up and display in your home during open houses & showings. It is hard for people to envision how beautiful your backyard is when covered in two feet of snow!
• Get a free online home evaluation to see what your home is worth!

Comment below your tips for preparing your home for Fall & Winter!