Whether you’re a new home owner or not, you must know that some seasonal maintenance is necessary to keep your property well-regulated. HER has crafted a checklist of outdoor and indoor activities you should focus on to prepare for the cooler months.

Don’t worry! Most tasks are actually pretty simple and well within the average person’s capability. And even if you absolutely don’t want to partake in a few house chores, you can always call in a professional to handle them.

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Exterior

1. Clear gutters

When the leaves start trickling off the trees, it’s important to check your drainage systems. Make sure gutters are free of leaves and other debris at least every couple of weeks. Tip: Before the leaves fall, cover your gutters with mesh guards to make this job a heck of a lot easier.

2. Check roof

Along with a gutter check, homeowners should inspect their roofs. Use binoculars to get a closer look, or if you can, use a ladder to climb up for a more accurate examination. You should be looking for damaged shingles — curling, cracking, or buckling. While you’re up there, make sure the chimney is in good condition as well. If you have any damaged bricks or shingles, replace them or call in a professional. You don’t want any leaks or chilling drafts finding their way in!

3. Reinforce windows and doors

Now is the time to remove summer window screens and check all the entrances to your house for air leaks. Window seals can crack or shrink over time, so install weather stripping around doors and windows as needed.

4. Tidy up yard

This can mean a variety of things depending on where you live and what type of yard you have. Keep this list in mind for inspiration:

• Store away seasonal outdoor furniture
• Close the pool
• Rake leaves
• Put away hoses, sprinklers, and gardening tools
• Organize the shed
  

5. Service facets

Drain garden hoses, disconnect them from the spigots, and make sure all exterior faucets are drained. If there’s still water inside them during winter, it could freeze and cause pipes to burst. To protect against this, turn off valves serving outside faucets (for older homes they might be located inside), then turn on the outside faucets to drain the lines.

6. Stock firewood

Whether you chop it yourself or buy it, firewood can be an important staple for fall and winter. Store it covered, in a dry place, and away from your house.

Interior

Source: One Kindesign

1. Test furnace

It’s best to make sure your heating system can perform before you find yourself really needing it. Take a day in early fall to give it a run. If it’s noisy, or doesn’t seem to be working, look into having it professionally inspected. It’s also a great idea to clean and/or replace the filters in your heating system. Not only can clogged filters make it harder for your furnace to heat your home properly, but it can spray dust into the air and all over your furniture. Breath easy and freshen your filter!

2. Check the attic

First, it’s necessary to make sure your attic is properly insulated. The more floor and ceiling space covered with “that pink stuff” (fiberglass insulation), the better!

While you’re upstairs, survey the premises for unwanted guests. Insects and other pests love attics because they can provide a warm shelter with easy access to the rest of the house. When the weather begins to turn, they’ll wonder if they can creep inside, unnoticed. Take a few steps to prevent a pest invasion! And Complete Pest Management for Inside and Out of your home with West Palm Beach Turner Pest Control.

• Cover any holes or openings
• Lay down poison and/or spray the exterior of your house
• Contact a professional exterminator
  

3. Review safety features

Better safe than sorry, right? At least once a year, you should check and review all of your home’s safety features. What better time to do so than before the cold months, when you’ll be spending the majority of your free time in your home? A safety check includes smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, rehearsing fire escape plans, and inspecting stovepipes.

4. Decorate!

We saved the best for last! Sure, this is entirely optional, but adding a few festive touches to your home has the power to make it so much more livable. Bring out the cozy quilts and dress up any mantles or tables with seasonal accessories. You could also partake in a lovely autumn DIY craft, like designing a welcoming wreath for your front door.‍

‍‍If you put in a little work to check some of these chores off your to-do list, you’ll be able to rest easy and enjoy the changing seasons so much more! Have fun with it!