As the year progresses, we often notice things we need to fix or maintain around our home, but we put it on the back burner as something to “deal with later” because it isn’t a high priority at the current time.
The team here at Varma Realty Group cares about keeping your home in tip-top shape, especially if you’re looking to sell in the near future. We therefore created this Fall Maintenance Checklist of “must-do’s” to help you protect your home from any potential damage and keep it in tip-top shape as one of your biggest personal investments:
1.Clean, or Possibly Replace Your Gutters
When your gutters become clogged, water will be unable to properly divert away from your home. Instead, the water will spill over the side of your gutters, leading to a number of different issues like roof leakage, foundation damage, structural issues, mold and mildew, and basement flooding. Any one of these can be a serious issue for a home. Head them off at the pass by cleaning out and inspecting the gutters of your home before the winter.
2. Inspect Your Roof
Summer storms can sometimes cause roof shingles to become partially detached or to blow off altogether, and it’s not always the first thing we notice in day-to-day life. Be sure to inspect your roof for any obvious signs of potential issues and consider hiring an expert to get on the roof for a detailed inspection. The fall season is your last chance to fix issues before the snow and cold weather make roof repairs almost impossible, and your roof is your home’s primary defense against outside elements.
3.Fix Cracks in Your Driveway/Sidewalks
Cold weather can cause small cracks to become big cracks. It can even cause the crumbling of concrete into “potholes,” if you aren’t careful. Rain water can get inside the cracks, then the water can freeze in the cold weather and expand, breaking the concrete around it and making the problem worse. Stop these issues in their tracks by filling in small cracks with concrete sealer before the weather turns cold.
4. Fix Foundation Cracks
In the same way that cracks in your driveway and sidewalks can get worse in the winter, so can cracks in your foundation. Be sure to inspect for and fix any cracks in your foundation before the cold weather takes hold.
5. Change System Filters/Replace Thermostat Batteries
Even though it’s recommended to change HVAC system filters monthly, it often doesn’t happen. When you’re getting ready to make the switch from AC to heat, make sure you get these filters changed. If filters are clogged, it makes it harder to keep your home at the temperature you want, AND makes it hard to keep high energy bills at bay. Additionally, if you have a thermostat that is battery operated, now would be a great time to replace the batteries in your thermostat as well.
6. Inspect Windows for Drafts
It’s also hard to keep winter heating bills down when your windows are letting in cold air. Feel around the edges of your windows to check for air drafts and reseal windows with weather stripping or caulk where necessary.
7. Replace Screen Doors with Storm Doors
Instead of letting in the fresh air with screen doors, it’s time to keep out the cold air with storm doors. Be sure to clean and repair screens, as well as spray them with a protective coating before storing in a dry place like the basement or garage.
6. Weather Strip Your Garage Door
Make sure the seal between your garage door and the ground is tight to prevent drafts and keep out small animals who like to hide out in garages away from the cold air.
9. Drain Garden Hoses And Store Them Inside
A garden hose isn’t something we think of until we need to use it, and it stays outside. Be sure to drain your hoses and wind them up for inside storage over the winter as well as to shut off outdoor water valves in preparation for cold weather. Any water left in exterior pipes and faucets can freeze and expand, breaking the pipes.
10. Fertilize Your Lawn
It sounds counterintuitive to invest in your lawn right at the time it starts turning brown, but the roots are in fact still active when the grass isn’t growing. Applying fertilizer in the fall will help prevent winter damage, as well as help your lawn turn green faster in the spring.
If you need help with finding expert help with any of the items on this list, or if you are interested in talking to a realtor about prepping your home for future sale, please contact Varma Realty Group, we’d love to assist you: varun@varmarealtygroup.com.
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