It’s the first week of autumn and while the days have still been sunny and mild, the nights have been chilly, with many people having already turned on the furnace once or twice to ease the transition. Pretty soon we’ll experience the first frost (I know, Ouch!) and dare I say that 4 letter word? SNOW?!?
While I personally hope that the fluffy white stuff is still at least a few weeks (if not months) away, the reality that summer is over is really setting in, and along with it a sense of responsibility to start getting our homes ready for the colder temperatures.
Here are a few things a responsible homeowner will want to take care of within the next couple weeks:
1) Furnace Check-up: Don’t get stuck on the first sub-zero day of the season with a broken furnace. Call a professional to do a quick check-up and service on your furnace to ensure it’s working efficiently and there are no foreseeable issues. Remember, regular maintenance to your home’s HVAC system is important and can save you a lot of money over time. Call me if you need a good referral.
2) Roof Check: Make sure to physically get up on the roof (or have a professional do it) to actually check for missing or loose shingles, or any other signs of damage. Extreme changes in temperature, rain, snow and ice buildup can wreak havoc on a roof, the first line of defense when it comes to protecting your home against the elements. This is an important one!…and get up there NOW while it's not as dangerous as it will be later. Again, call me if you need a good referral.
3) Clean & Inspect Eaves/Gutters: Make sure these are in proper working order, because pretty soon they will be working double-duty with a build up of fallen leaves and other seasonal debris. If your home is surrounded by a lot of greenery and trees, you should be cleaning your eaves and gutters more frequently. Call me if you need a gutter cleaning referral.
4) Weather Proof Doors and Windows: Heating and cooling use up almost half of the average home’s energy consumption. Sealing and Insulating doors and windows properly can help save as much as 20% on heating costs. Not only that, it’s a very simple and inexpensive D.I.Y. project that anybody can do! Hold a burning incense stick next to doors and windows and watch the smoke move as an indicator if a certain spot is creating a draft. Attach self-adhesive weatherstipping as required. Call me if you need a handy man!
5) Prepare the garden: Start getting your lawn and garden ready too. Your attention here will pay off next spring when the snow melts. Clear leaves as they fall, re-seed patchy areas of grass, fertilize, plant spring flowering bulbs, and wrap any small trees or shrubbery that will require protection for the season. Yeah, you get the picture, I'll stop saying it now.
6) Don’t forget the garage: As you finish up with your outside work, you’ll want to do a little organizing of your garage or shed area. Drain fuel from any gasoline operated lawn equipment, move your summer equipment out of the way, and make sure the snow shovels, snow blowers and other winter tools are accessible for when you will need them. Don't forget to bring paint, caulk and other substances that might be temperature sensitive to your basement.
Of course, this list isn’t all encompassing, but it sure is a great place to start. The idea isn’t to keep you busy non-stop with house chores until Christmas, but rather to steer you in the right direction to avoid costly repairs down the road. Of course, there are always professionals out there to help when you need them, but pretty soon they will also be busy with the changing season, and may be hard to book.
If you’re looking for more ideas or tips on how to get your home ready for fall, please really do feel free to call me, as I’ve got loads to share. Alternately, if you have suggestions you’d like to share, I invite you to comment below.
Have other home-ownership related questions? Maybe you are curious about what a property sold for in your neighbourhood, maybe you’re wondering what your property is worth, or maybe you just have questions about what’s going on with the local market. I’m here to help!
Happy fall!
-Trish
