Home Maintenance: Fall Maintenance Guide

With fall here we’ve discussed in our last few maintenance guides about closing your pool and about gutter guards for your home in preparation for the cooler temperatures and falling leaves. If you are a new homeowner, especially a first-time homebuyer, who was able to have success in the Windsor real estate market in light of the Bank of Canada’s actions, we’ve got a handy guide to help you get your home ready for fall. What about those looking for Windsor homes for sale? If you are shopping for a home this fall and viewing houses for sale in Windsor, this guide can help you identify how well the home was prepared for fall and may even help give you some idea of how the home is cared for in general. Inturn this can help you make a more informed decision about the house you are buying.

Let's get into the 10 tips for getting your home ready for fall:

Lawn Mower
- Give it a good cleaning and prepare it for winter by adding gas stabilizer to the fuel tank to keep the gas fresh as it sits and help it start next spring.
Hoses
- Remove your hoses from the spigot and drain the lines completely. If you have shutoffs, cut the water so nothing freezes, expands, and cracks over the fall and winter.
Sprinkler System
- If you have an inground system, blow your lines out to prevent freezing and cracking and winterize the system.
Air Leaks
- We’re talking windows, doors, siding, etc. Get a tube of caulking from the hardware store and do a manual check and touch up of seals around your home to keep hot air in and cold air out.
Gutters
- We talked about the guards, but if you don’t have them, be sure to get up to them, safely, and clean them out to ensure proper drainage
Roof Check
- If you can get up there great, if not, an eyeball check can do the job as well. Look for damage, shingle issues, or other problems that can manifest over the winter. Get it fixed now, before the snow makes the problem worse and more expensive.
Drainage
- A follow-up from the gutters. Make sure downspouts are directed five to ten feet away from the home and foundation to prevent water pooling around your foundation.
Furnace check
- It might not quite be time to turn it on but get it ready. Ensure your filters are clean and ready and that your unit is in working order. Schedule an HVAC expert now instead of a costly call come winter.
Yard Work
- One last yard clean up, prune plants and trees to ensure they are kept away from the home where they can cause excess moisture build-up or falling frozen limbs can cause home damage
Check Your Fireplace
- Much like your furnace, you may not need it yet, but get it ready. Ensure your damper is properly working and the chimney is clean. Build up and debris can catch fire and risk your whole home and safety.

As always, if you are in need of recommendations for any of the jobs discussed above, we work with great local companies who can help you out.

(content courtesy: HouseLogic https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/home-maintenance-tips/fall-checklist/)

Here at Jump Realty our agents will give you honest advice on what course of action is best for you in their professional opinion and will always put taking care of your best interests first! With offices in Windsor, Tecumseh, Kingsville, LaSalle, and Chatham, no matter where you are, a Jump agent is ready to help. Please contact us for any housing needs and let us give you a better real estate experience!