A chill is in the air, which only means that fall is creeping up on us – which also means it’s time to start prepping your home for fall. Taking care of these tasks now, while there are still nice temperatures for working in, is going to help you get ahead of the game.
Whether you’re a new or a veteran homeowner, you’ll benefit by learning what tasks should be tackled as fall approaches. Ben Busy Indy Houses wants to help you to plan for these tasks, so let’s take a look at some of the to-do items you should have on your list for this fall.
Prepping Your Home for Fall
Outside Tasks
Knowing which outside tasks to tackle may seem obvious, but many items are often overlooked, these include:
- Cleaning the gutters
- Inspecting and repairing gutters and downspouts
- Draining hoses and storing for winter
- Checking your roof for loose tiles or holes
- Having your chimney and fireplace inspected
But these aren’t the only exterior tasks you need to take care of. That’s why it’s best to start early and get your list done before the heart of fall, otherwise winter could hit you before you’ve even completed your list.
If you have a fireplace, or two, you should be stocking up on firewood. Be sure your firewood is kept dry and don’t store it right next to the house, as it is a safety hazard.
Other exterior items to put on your checklist includes:
- Cleaning and installing your storm windows
- Having your irrigation and sprinkler systems winterized
- Having your trees inspected and trimmed
- Winterizing your air conditioning unit
It’s also time to trim your shrubs and small trees, plant your flowers and fertilize your lawn. Then there’s that age-old, seemingly never-ending task of leaf removal. But don’t wait until all of the leaves have fallen, as the rain that will surely fall will make the leaves heavy and could begin the molding process underneath.
Lastly, this is the best time to clean and organize your garage and shed. We spend all summer long riding bikes, cutting the grass, using our boogie boards and kayaks, playing corn hole and badminton. But now it’s time to move those items to the back and bring your snowblower, shovels and salt to the front.
Interior Tasks
Now let’s look at what should be on your to-do list for the interior of your home. Believe it or not, there are actually plenty of ways you need to prep for fall inside of your home as well.
First and foremost on your to-do list should be completing your home safety checklist, which should include:
- Checking and changing batteries on the smoke detectors – or installing some if you don’t have any – smoke detectors save lives.
- Check your fire extinguishers, making sure they are not expired and are the right rating. Tip: keep a fire extinguisher near the exit of your kitchen so that you can spray, but be ready to leave the area if a fire gets out of hand.
- Make sure you have emergency ladders in the bedrooms upstairs
- Create a fire escape plan, or review your current plan
- Assemble an emergency preparedness kit for those winter power outages
Other interior prepping that you should do will include having your furnace serviced by a local professional. Consider getting on a maintenance schedule with them so that you can get an early appointment scheduled. You should also stock up on air filters and be sure to change them every couple of months during the winter.
Check for airflow leaks by windows and doors and re-caulk them. You should also check the weatherstripping and replace any that are rotted. If you have air conditioning window units, consider removing and storing them, or you can buy a cover to prevent outside air from getting in.
Clean your mudroom and change out items for fall, like placing raincoats, boots, umbrellas and hats at the door. If you don’t have a mudroom, Lifehack.org suggests creating a space by dedicating an area by your door – perhaps a closet or a small space.
The mud space doesn’t have to be large, a three foot by three-foot area is enough to hold a shoe rack, storage bench and install coat hooks. Be sure to lay down shoe trays or an indoor/outdoor rug to catch the dirt, wet, and grime.
Now that you’ve got your list, Ben Buys Indy Houses is confident that you can tackle those tasks and be comforted knowing that you are ready to face the fall and winter head-on.
To see who Ben Buys Indy Houses is, and to learn how he can help you when you are ready to sell your house fast and for cash, visit his website at BenBuysIndyHouses.com.
