Fall Maintenance for your Property

Whether you are thinking of selling your home or recently moved in. We all want to keep our house in top shape. Fall is the perfect time of year to take care of some important fall maintenance property chores. From raking the leaves to preparing for the cold winter ahead. Take care of these tasks before the snow flies to make sure you get through another winter without any property damage.

Lawn Care and Landscaping

Start your fall maintenance tasks by raking the lawn and getting rid of fallen leaves. A small layer of leaves around trees and bushes can act as good insulation for the winter. If you don’t the thick layers will simply grow mold and kill your beautiful landscaped grass.

After your lawn is ready, take some time to do any fall pruning and do not forget to wrap the fragile plants and bushes up from the long winter ahead. Most plants will be fine to weather. But if there are any that are particularly vulnerable, a layer of burlap tied lightly will protect them from the harshness of the season.

Roof and Gutters

Before winter hits, have a professional inspection done of your roof. This should be an annual practice, to check in on the safety for your family. But to also keep the roof in top shape should you decide to sell. A roofer will be able to identify early signs of leaks or roof damage. They should also be able to indicate if you need to replace any lose shingles or foresee any problems with the structural integrity of your home.

In addition to having the roof inspected, once the trees have dropped all of their leaves, have your gutters professional cleaned. This ensures that there are no drainage issues heading into winter for the snow and ice and reduces the risk of mold build up which can be harmful to your health.

Windows and Doors

With old man winter soon to set in, this is the time to make sure that your home is appropriately insulated to handle the cold weather. Go around and check the seals of the doors and windows, making sure there is no draft coming in. A drafty door can cause big spikes in your heating bill. A simple fix with some hardware store insulating tape should to the trick! Visit the attic and check for visible signs of deteriorating insulation, water damage or leaks.

Finally, make sure there are no signs of uninvited critters such as mice or squirrels – they will not leave any time soon, given the weather, so it is best to catch them early!

Fall Maintenance while Selling your Property

While it may seem like a lot of maintenance to tackle, especially if your home is listed for sale. Spread the workload out over a couple of weekends. You can always elicit the help of family members to make the chores go by faster.

Once you have your property is looking pristine, do not forget to work with a REALTOR®, as a newly fall maintained home will look good with an Open House!