It's important to protect your home in the off-season. I know it doesn’t feel like winter right now but it’s best to get this done now rather than waiting until it’s freezing outside.

Here are a few tips, 16 to be exact, of what to do to get your home ready for Fall, and then for Winter!

1. Gutters

Clear gutters of leaves, sticks, and other debris. This may need to be done more than once during the season. If the gutters can accommodate them, leaf guards are real time-savers and prevent clogging.

If rain gutters are blocked they can overflow which can cause water damage to your home, including the foundation and basement. Take out your ladder, and clear out any leaves, branches, or debris from the gutter.

2. Windows & Doors

As the year comes to a close, the weather will get colder. If your windows are not sealed properly, your home could lose lots of heat, causing your gas and heating bills to spike! Check for leaks now and have a worry-free winter. Caulk around the exterior door and window frames for a tight seal. Look for gaps where pipes or wiring enter the home and seal those as well to protect from water, insects and mice.

3. Check Your Roof

Use binoculars to check the roof for missing or damaged shingles. Water, wind, ice and snow can cause serious damage to a vulnerable roof, leading to a greater chance of further damage inside the home. Always have a qualified professional inspect and repair the roof.

4. Furnace Inspection

Have the furnace inspected to ensure that it’s safe and in good working order. Most utility companies will provide basic, no-cost furnace inspections to their customers. Replace disposable furnace air filters or clean the permanent type according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Check on Your Water Heater. Your water heater has a lot of work to do in fall and winter. Over time, water heaters can get loaded down with sediment, overcome with scale, or other problems that reduce efficiency and lead to problems. If you haven't paid much attention to your water heater, it may be time to clean it out for the coming months to make your home ready for the cold.

5.  Attend to your Fireplace

There’s nothing like a wood-burning fireplace on a chilly fall evening. For safety, have the firebox and chimney professionally cleaned before use this season.

Your fireplace & chimney should be cleaned and inspected every 50 burns to ensure that it's ready to be used.

6.  Smoke Detector

Replace all batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. Once you've replaced the batteries, press the test button to ensure they are working properly.

7. Organize the Garage

With the hustle and bustle of the summer, the garage most likely could use some tidying up. Install some shelving or add some hooks to keep your garage more organized year-round. Why not pull out your Fall decorations while you’re at it? 

8. Purchase a Programmable Thermostat

Having a programmable thermostat is completely worth the investment, especially once the weather cools down. If you set your thermostat back while you're away during the day, you could save up to 10% on your air conditioning/heating bill each year. Many programmable thermostats can even be accessed from your phone.

9. Fertilize your Lawn

Applying fall lawn fertilizer will help prevent winter damage and spring weeds. Ask a local garden center or check online to find out which type of fertilizer you need and when to apply it. 

There are a variety of flowers to plant in the fall that will bloom in the spring, so get some fall gardening done before the ground freezes. Consider planting these bulbs during fall for spring flowers: tulip, iris, daffodil, hyacinth and lily.

 10. Reverse your Ceiling Fan

During winter, warm air rises up to the ceiling fan while cool air will stay close to the ground. By flipping a switch and reversing your ceiling fan, cool air is forced up, and warmer air is pushed down.

11. Look for Gaps and Cracks in Your Insulation

Make your home fall ready and fix insulation issues before the cold weather arrives. Take a trip up to your attic/crawlspace during the day and look for rays of light in the corners. The only light should be coming from your attic vents and corners should be well-protected with insulation. And do the same thing with your ductwork. Have a partner shine a light in your vents and see if it shows any cracks while you watch from the crawlspace. Those cracks will cost you warm air!

12. Prepare Your Outdoor Furniture

Wash your outdoor furniture and bring in any sensitive cushions or fabrics to get your home ready for fall. This is true even for durable outdoor padding, as it can develop mould issues over wet seasons. If you get a lot of snow, consider storing chairs and tables in a shed for better protection.

13. Prepare Your Entryway for Muddy Feet

Are your entryway and home ready to deal with the dirt and moisture that fall and winter bring? Make sure there are places to store dirty clothes or equipment and ways to take care of muddy shoes or boots. Keep that dirt away from your floors by making sure it never enters the house.

14. Shut off and Drain Outside Faucets:

The faucets you use outside in the summer to wash your car, soak your garden and hose down your kids are susceptible to freezing. If proper care is not taken to shut off and drain these lines before winter, it can lead to pipes and faucets bursting or cracking and can create a huge, potentially expensive, disaster.

Once the water is turned off inside, open the outside faucet to let it completely drain. If the inside shut-off valve has a drain plug — a small cap on the side of the shut-off — open it while the outside faucet is still turned to the on position (make sure to have a bucket under it when you open it as water will come out). Once all the water has completely drained from the line, close the drain plug on the shut-off valve and turn the outside faucet back to the off position.

15. Pool

Get your Pool Professionally shut down and irrigation blown out.

And finally, click here to check our Home Seller Checklist.

If you want to talk to us about Vernon real estate feel free to call us at 250-549-SALT (7258), text us at 250-309-9586 or email us at webinfo@saltfowler.com.