Regular home maintenance is crucial for every homeowner. Each season has different demands and there a more than a few items you can address in the fall to improve the overall health of your home.
Fall is a great time to tackle repair projects before cold temperatures and snow make outdoor work more difficult.
Proper home maintenance in the fall can help you save money in the long run. Deferred maintenance can often lead to repairs in the future.
Below you’ll find a list of fall projects every homeowner should consider.
1. Care for Trees and Shrubs
The fall is the best time to prepare your trees, bushes, and shrubs for extreme winter conditions. As cold weather approaches fastly it’s likely that your plants, trees, shrubs, and bushes are weakened due to lack of moisture.
Consider hiring an arborist if you have trees on your property. They will reduce tree loss and prevent potential damages from incorrect pruning.
2. Tend to Your Yard
You may think your grass stops growing in the fall but the roots are growing deeper to as it preps for winter. Thos the perfect time to reseed and fertilize your lawn.
Too many leaves on your lawn can be more than just an unsightly mess but it can also lead to potential headaches. Raking leaves will reduce the chance of lawn disease and pest infestation.
3. Clean Gutters and Downspouts
Clogged gutters and downspouts can lead to water leaks which can damage your roof and siding. Clogged gutters can cause wood rot and even unexpected guests like rodents.
Make sure water drains properly away from the house. Water that pools can cause damage to the sidewalk, driveway, and foundation.
4. Exterior Repairs
Walk around your property and try to look for damages in your roof, siding, or foundation. It is essential to schedule repair if you spot any issues.
5. Seal Gaps
Look around your house for any gaps rodents could enter. Mice and other critters are looking for warm places when winter strikes. Once they invade your home it’s only matter of time before they raid your pantry.
Make sure to secure any holes and gaps you find with a heavy duty hardware cloth to keep the pests outside.
6. Check Walkways, Railings, Stairs and the Driveway
When there’s snow everywhere, it’s difficult to walk to your front door. Avoid safety hazards by checking your stairs, railings, and the driveway are sturdy and in good shape.
7. Winter Supplies
Living in Northern Virginia means you need to be prepared for unexpected snowy weather and fall is the best time to prepare. Make sure you have sufficient shovels, ice scrapes, emergency kit, and a snow blower.
8. Shut off Exterior Faucets and Store Hoses
Prevent issues with your water lines freezing by shutting off your exterior faucets before the weather starts getting colder. Make sure to flush and winterize your sprinkles in the fall as well.
Don’t forget to drain your hoses before storing them indoors.
9. Add Weatherstripping
Holes and gaps are usually found beneath exterior doors. Grab and apply a few packages of weatherstripping sealing all doors that lead outside to boost winter warmth and decrease energy cost.
10. Check Safety Devices
With cold weather fast approaching, your heating devices may be struggling to keep up with demand. The oven and stove are working overtime, the fireplace is burning, and the furnace is fighting the cold which can lead to carbon monoxide build up or worst, a fire.
Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries as needed to avoid safety hazards.
11. Clean Dryer Vents
Lint builds up in your dryer vent not only affect the efficiency of your it, but also cause a fire. Consider hiring a duct cleaning specialist, or you can do it yourself.
Deep-clean the Kitchen
Whether it’s warm or cold season, it’s essential to deep-clean your kitchen to increase its efficiency and appeal. Make sure to clean the oven, small appliances, and light fixtures.
Don’t forget to scrub and wash your walls, backsplash, tiles, and recycling bins.
12. Schedule a Chimney Cleaning and Heating System Maintenance
If you have a fireplace in your property, consider scheduling a chimney cleaning. It will reduce the chance of major accidents that might happen in the future.
Without annually cleaning your chimney, creosote will build up that may cause fire and damage liner and mortar joints. It will also eliminate allergens accumulated throughout the year.
In addition to cleaning chimneys, make sure to regularly clean your boilers to extend the life of your water heater and maintain its efficiency.
Have your furnace cleaned and service in the fall to better prepare your systems for the additional usage.
If you need help with any of these home maintenance items check out our list of reliable services around the area. Click here for a consolidated list of trusted service providers near you.
Thinking of selling your home? Check out our 20+ step Guide to Selling Your House. Or you can contact me now to start the process immediately. Same day appointments are available on a case by case basis. I look forward to hearing from you.
Are you thinking about buying a home soon? Check out our Steps to Buying a Home Guide. Feel free to give me a call at 703-539-2053 or email [email protected] to schedule a private showing of this or any other property.
About the Author
The above article was written by Abraham Walker, Your Northern Virginia Real Estate Agent, helping clients market their homes to achieve high sales with a quick closing time is my main priority. He’s the co-founder of Ask A Walker and can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and HERE on this blog.
