Each season comes with its own checklist of home maintenance and home improvement tips to prepare your home for the time of the year. Now that fall has (finally) come, this is the checklist you’ll need to follow. From indoor maintenance to lawn care, here’s everything you need to know!
“To be prepared is half the victory.” - Miguel de Cervantes
Inspecting and Cleaning
Make sure your home is ready for the colder temperatures by inspecting and cleaning exterior features:
- Get your exterior drainage checked
- Get hot water heater flushed and sediment removed
- Remove shower heads and clean them
- Get gutters and downspouts cleaned out
- Get your chimney and fireplace inspected and cleaned
Heating
Nobody wants to pay more for heating costs than they have to, so be sure to check all of your HVAC equipment for optimal efficiency.
- Remove and store A/C window units; cover central air unit with a tarp
- Get furnace inspected/repaired
- Make sure heating vents are open and not blocked by furniture
- Check if thermostat is working properly and upgrade to a programmable one if you haven’t done so already
- Get your home properly insulated if you haven’t done so already
Exterior Home Maintenance
Make sure the exterior of your house is ready for fall and winter. Here’s how you do that:
- Reduce your energy bills with fresh weather-stripping for your home’s windows and doors
- Inspect your home’s foundation and concrete surfaces for cracks
- Getting cracks filled now will prevent moisture
- Clean and store all your exterior furniture and all the window AC units
- Get your roof and siding inspected to avoid stress and problems during snow season
- Close the pool
Did you know prices vary according to your location? For example, if you’re in Dayton, OH, you’ll pay around $1,569 for a foundation inspection. However, if you’re in Quincy, MA prices will be around $1,713. To get the most accurate estimate, call a local professional today.
Interior Home Maintenance
With more time spent indoors and more allergens and pests about to be working their way into your home, having a thoroughly clean home helps to deter all these issues significantly.
- If your home is still equipped with popcorn ceilings, now’s the time to get them removed, particularly if your family is prone to asthma or allergies
- A good chimney sweep right before you start using your fireplace again is an obligatory safety precaution - always have a professional do this
- Install insulation and make sure your windows and doors are sealed
Landscape Care
If you want green, beautiful, and healthy grass come spring, follow these tips for fall lawn care:
- Lower the blades, aerate, and feed the lawn
- Plant in fall for spring blooming
- Prune trees and shrubs
- Rake leaves
More
- Shut off outdoor faucets and drain pipes, and store hoses
- Stock up on winter supplies: buy winter gear such as good shovels and sidewalk salt
- Test the basement sump pump
Ready to call a local professional and get your home ready for the season? Remember insulation is an important part - get a free quote to get yours installed.
