10 Things to Do to Prepare Your Home for Fall

Fall can be a beautiful time of the year – if your home is ready for it.

With strong winds, leaves flowing, and cooler weather coming (not to mention the current coronavirus pandemic), you may want to make sure your home is sealed up tight and prepared for the winter. Remember, it’s much easier to get your home ready now rather than wait till the rain or snow starts showing up. This is the best time to fix small problems before they become big, and big ones before they become catastrophic.

Hare are 10 tips to help you prep your home:

1- Look up. Examine your roof closely. Remove moss, clear debris from your gutters and downspouts, and repair any damage.

2- Look down. Check for signs of animals and insects around your home and garage, including in the basement and crawlspace. Bring in a professional to get rid of unwanted guests.

3- Keep things warm. Heat escapes through leaks around windows and doors, so seal up any drafty areas. Outside, put covers over faucets before temperatures drop.

4- Keep things dry. Drain outdoor hoses, faucets and irrigation systems. Look in the basement and crawlspace for wet spots. And, make sure your water heater or boiler isn’t leaking.

5- Clear the air (or vents and filters, at least). When’s the last time you checked your dryer vent? You should take a look at attic vents and exhaust ducts, as well. And, change that furnace filter!

6- Take a walk. Cracks in your driveway or walkways will only get bigger, so get them fixed soon. If your deck has signs of wear, make repairs now.

7- Get a tune-up. You or a professional should clean and tune your furnace, boiler and/or water heater, as well as your oven and range.

8- Don’t play with fire. Before building your first fireplace fire of the season, check for soot or creosote build-up.

9- Don’t play with fire extinguishers, either. But, check them to ensure they still have pressure. Don’t have fire extinguishers? Put them on your shopping list, ideally one for each floor.

10- Don’t forget those smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors. Replace batteries when needed, and test regularly that alarms are working.

Keeping your home insurance policy in tip-top condition is smart, too. Remember to check in with us at least once a year to update your policy so you’re covered for your new remodel, additions or personal possessions.