Fall Home Maintenance Tips

Fall is my Favorite Season, but suddenly it Feels COLD!  The first frost in the Greater Seattle Area is usually before the end of October, and the cold and dark can wreak havoc on your home if you don’t take a few precautions.  I’ve put together a list of some recommended home maintenance tips that can save you a lot of time and money down the road if done routinely.

1. Turn off outside faucets and cover them. The last few years we’ve had some pretty cold temperatures in the winter and you never know when they’ll strike.  If you’re done watering for the year and don’t need those outside faucets, turn them off and cover them up.

2. Check your furnace. Annual maintenance and at a very minimum changing your filters each quarter will keep you warm and toasty for years to come.  It seems they always go out when they’re working hardest, so don’t get caught when the prices are highest and you’re shivering.

3. Have your roof inspected and cleaned. Spending $300-$400 a year maintaining your roof can save thousands of dollars.  If a roof leaks, it makes for such bigger problems and creates a disclosure issue when you do sell your home.  Cleaner home inspections make for larger profits in the home selling world.

4. Gutters, OH MY! These little suckers are trouble. So many beautiful trees around here, drop all their leaves, needles, pinecones, etc in the fall.  Gutters get full, so water sits.  The longer it sits the more whatever it’s touching rots.  When the gutters don’t drain, your checking account balance will.

5. Check your crawl space/sump pump. Not everyone has a sump pump, but if you do, it’s there for a reason.  Just like water sitting on top of your home is destructive, water sitting under your home is also.  If you have a sump pump in your crawl space, it was put there to remove water and should be maintained, and serviced if needed.

6. Inspect your chimney and fireplace. Whether you’re using wood or gas, make sure your chimney or flue are clear of debris and blockages.  We definitely want to keep the fire inside of the fireplace!

7. A few other things.  To help keep your energy bills lower, you can make sure there are no gaps in your windows or doors that are letting that cold air in.  Additionally, you can reverse the direction of any ceiling fans you have to push the warm air back down into the room.  Finally, don’t forget your cute outdoor furniture and décor.  When we emerge from the dark winter, it’s always so fun to bring out the summer vibe.  Taking it in or making sure it’s dry and covered will keep it ready for you when that sun-shiney day finally comes.

How many of these things do you do?  I have to say, I wasn’t aware of many of these until I started helping people buy and sell homes so I think it’s important to make sure you are all aware.  Now excuse me, I have to go put up my Christmas tree.  😊  (just kidding, I’ll wait until Nov 1).