As the cooler weather arrives (well hopefully it will) so do some Fall home maintenance tasks. Your home is likely your biggest investment. If you want to squeeze the most equity out of your home as possible then maintaining it is the best thing you can do!

Here are some things you may want to start on now. Get that Fall Home Maintenance Checklist completed then sit back and relax.

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Trim Back Bushes, Shrubs and Trees – Be sure to maintain your perennials before the first frost.  When it comes to large trees and shrubs you will want to make sure you are trimming out any dead wood before the leaves start falling.  Dead branches can be hazardous to your home in the winter months, especially if they are hanging over your roof or areas where you park vehicles.  Trimming back your perennials, cutting away the dead wood and fertilizing as needed will help keep your home safe and help your garden grow back beautiful next year!

Rake the Leaves – As those leaves start to Fall be sure to keep on top of raking.  I know they look so pretty on the ground, but they can stunt the growth of your lawn. Be sure your leaves are raked and your lawn is healthy next Spring.

Clean Gutters and Downspouts – Once you have lost a good amount of your leaves in Fall be sure to make sure your gutters and downspouts are cleaned out. You don’t want clogged gutters causing ice dams in Winter.

Make any Exterior Repairs – Take a good look around the exterior of your home.  Do you have any large holes in your siding, any damaged or rotting siding?  How is your roof looking?  Check your siding, roof and foundation and address any issues before winter arrives.

Keep Out the Critters – Be sure to look for any holes big or tiny that critters can get in.  Animals like mice and even squirrels will be looking for cozy spots as it gets cooler.  Use some heavy duty hardware cloth or even steel wool (for smaller areas) to block holes and keep your home critter free!

Add Weather Stripping – If you have gaps around your doors or windows that cold air can easily seep in through, adding some weather stripping can help! It is such a cheap fix to help the warm air from your heater or fires inside your home.

Have Your Heating Systems Serviced – If you have a chimney, it is a good time to get it cleaned and checked.  Furnace? Be sure to have a professional come out and service it.  Gas Fireplace?  Turn on the flame and make sure everything is working well.  The most basic thing you can do is be sure you change your HVAC systems filter.

Clean Dryer Vents – It’s good to do this regularly so you might see me put this on every home maintenance list.  Not cleaning out your dryer vent could cause fires so it is a good thing to do often.

Stock Up on Winter Supplies – Be sure to stock up on those winter supplies.  Snow Shovels, pet and plant safe ice melt, your winter emergency kit, make sure these are all in good condition, restocked and ready to go!

Check or Update Your Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors – You should switch these items out at least every 10 years!  If yours are getting close to that expiry age it may be worth just swapping them out.  You can buy these items cheaply at Walmart or Home Depot/Lowes.  If yours are newer be sure to switch the batteries out and test them!

Fall Cleaning – The start of each season is such a great time to give your home a deep clean.  Wipe down ceiling vans, clean out vents, clean your carpets, scrub the oven/fridge, wipe down all those cracks and crevices that have gathered dirt and dust.  Starting the Fall Season with a nice clean home can be such a stress reliever.

Once you have checked these items off your Fall Home Maintenance List, You can sit back and wait for Winter to arrive and for the snow to start falling knowing you are safe and warm in your home!