10 Tips to Get Your House Ready for Fall
For some, people love the change from summer to fall. Other, like me, fight the change every step of the way. Regardless of how you fell, there’s no denying that fall is definitely here and winter is just around the corner. With the changes in seasons, we need to get our house ready for what’s coming. Not doing so can be a costly mistake that could have been prevented with proper planning.
1. Fertilize your lawn
Fall is the best time to give your lawn a good feeding. As the weather begins to cool, your lawn will slow its top growth while the roots will continue to actively grow. A fall fertilizer application should be applied at the right time, when the plants are still absorbing nutrients.
2. Clean out the eave troughs and downspouts
Nobody wants to clean out all the leaves and muck in face reality and clean out those gutters. If they are left unattended, the gutters will freeze up, clog, and water will eventually seep into your home causing nasty damage. After you clean out the muck, run water through the gutters to check for any misalignment that could cause water damage. Remember to empty and put your hoses away. Also drain the water from your sprinkler system if you have one.
3. Seal cracks, doors & openings
Letting the cold air in and the warm air escape from our house is just throwing money away. Warm air will escape out of any cracks around our windows and doors and make our furnace work that much harder which means a high heating bill. Walk around your exterior to check on any areas on windows and doors that need recaulking.
- Clean and inspect your fireplace.
- Clean and inspect your dryer vent.
- Change the batteries in your smoke detectors.
- Check that carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.
- Inspect fire extinguishers.
- Inspect and test sump pumps.
- Empty and store rain barrels.
- Winterize outdoor lawn equipment.
4. Check weather stripping
Weather stripping loses its effectiveness with age and needs to be replaced every few years. While you’re walk around your exterior checking out for cracks in windows and doors, do the same for stripping around exterior doors, windows and your garage door at the same time.. Replace it if its worn or cracked.
5. Remove|shut-off air conditioning systems
Remove your in-window air conditioners and properly store them to protect the unit for next spring. Whole home A/C units should be powered down from the breaker in your main electrical panel. If you have a safety shut-off switch located outside by the A/C unit that should be turned off as well.
6. Store your outdoor furniture
Outdoor furniture can take a beating in colder climates that see winter storms. Wash off and bring in your outdoor furniture inside if you have room to store it indoors. If you’re leaving your furniture outside, wash it off, stack what you can, and either buy outdoor protectors at a big box store or wrap the furniture well in a heavy plastic.
7. Shut off drains & outside faucets
The faucets you use outside in the summer to wash your car, soak your garden and hose down your kids are susceptible to freezing. These lines need to be drained and shut-off before winter to avoid pipes and faucets cracking or bursting leading to potentially an expensive disaster.
8. Clean & inspect your furnace
It’s better to make an appointment now to get your furnace’s annual check-up to ensure that it’s working properly rather then wait in line with everyone else once you need to start using your furnace.
Change the furnace filter if you have forced-air heating. Change your filter regularly. Put a reminder on your electronic calendar to help you!
If you need to replace your furnace, buy an energy-efficient model. It really helps you save money and energy each month. Check with your local government to see what cash incentives that may be available.
9. Inspect your roof & chimney
Check your roof & chimney before it gets cold and problems could potentially surface. From the outside look for signs of worn, loose or missing shingles and shingles with mold or rot on them. If you see potential issues, have your trusty professional roofer take a look to evaluate. If you have a metal, tiled or roof with solar panels, again have a professional do an inspection.
10. How’s your path and driveway?
The first signs of fall creeping upon us are the leaves changing colors, and its getting darker earlier which means we could be leaving the house in the dark or coming home in the dark. Instead of fumbling in the dark, make this the year where you add more lighting to your effected outdoors areas.
Light up your path along the way so you can see where you are going. Lighting common areas will help prevent accidents for you and your visitors. Especially when the snow and ice hits!
Add motion sensored flood lights above the garage. This is a great way of adding light when you need it the most. Already have motioned sensored lights? Awesome. Change the light bulbs now before they go out in the middle of winter when you need to go up on a ladder on a slippery driveway trying to change them.
Check your paths and driveway to make sure that there are not any loose stones or holes in pavement or walkway. Any loose stones or cracks could cause someone to fall and twist their ankle on a dark and slippery path at night. Repair your pathway now that it is clear.
Don’t forget to get the shovels, snow blowers, antifreeze and SALT
There’s nothing more annoying that waking up late one morning, rushing out the front door, to find yourself doing a balancing act on your front step from the ice storm that was “delivered” over night while you so very carefully inch your way to the garage to find that you have no salt, the shovel is buried at the back of the garage, and you have no clue as to the location of the ice scraper for your car. And to add to your sorrow, you finally find the ice scraper, inch along the roads to your local hardware stores, just to find out everyone has beat you to buying the salt you so desperately needed.
It may seem too early in the season to make sure you have all the equipment you need, like shovels, salt, snow blowers, antifreeze, ice scrapers, etc but that first snow or ice storm sneaks up on us as you will be wishing you had taken the time to check out your inventory earlier. While you’re at it, be sure to winterize your equipment with antifreeze while you can.
More tips on getting your house ready for winter!
- Fertilize your lawn
- Empty & store rain barrels
While you’re inspecting your house, remember to….
- Clean and inspect your dryer vent
- Change the batteries in your smoke detectors
- Check that carbon monoxide detectors are working properly
- Inspect fire extinguishers
- Inspect and test sump pumps
Do you want your curb appeal looking great all winter?
Need a refresh on your front door + garage door paint colors! Its not too late to update these before the cold weather hits. Perhaps you’re looking at updating your whole exterior including the front door, trim, garage door etc and you need some direction. I offer several different color consult, design packages & staging packages. I guarantee my work. I will make sure you’re happy. Let me help you take the stress out of choosing a paint color for you.
Click here to learn more about my online e-design, color & staging consults.
Hi! I’m Debi Collinson. Designer. Color Consultant & Real Estate Investor.
I conducted my first color consult at the age of 7, for my father for one of his design | build projects. I’m an Interior Designer, a Double-Certified Paint Color Expert, with advanced training in kitchens + bathrooms!
Since 2006, I have helped hundreds of clients, just like you, to style their house to make it a stunning retreat, that is functional for the family AND that they love and enjoy their home. I was one of the first stagers in the industry when staging just started out, and I have helped hundreds of clients make money beyond their expectations when they sold their house.
In 2020, I moved my design business online. In my spare time lol, I renovate, manage and am the general contractor for my rental properties.
Excellent tips once again, Debi! Thanks for the reminder to take a look at all our exterior light bulbs and get them replaced now. Just did the gutters and will do them again once all the leaves have fallen.
Hey Marie – It’s hard to do all these maintenance items while it’s still nice outside but we know what’s coming!!! SNOW!