Fall Home Maintenance Checklist: Interior and Exterior

Make sure your home is ready for fall weather with this handy fall home maintenance checklist:

Home Interior Fall Maintenance Tips

  • Fall Home Maintenance ChecklistReplace furnace filters and have your furnace and fireplace serviced before you need them.
  • Do a fall safety check by testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and change batteries. Safety experts recommend you do this when the time changes twice a year, so you don’t forget.
  • Seal cracks and gaps around windows and doors in your home and basement with caulking or weather stripping. This will save energy and preserve heat in your home during the colder months.
  • Check the weather stripping around your garage door.
  • Reverse the direction of any ceiling fans so there is an upward draft. This will help redistribute heat that rises to the ceiling.
  • Store portable air conditioning units and clean and cover central air units.
  • Clean your humidifiers throughout the season to keep them free of bacteria and other germs.

Home Exterior Fall Maintenance Tips

  • Drain outside faucets and hoses, and do any repairs or maintenance to sprinkler systems.
  • Clean gutters and downspouts, so they can handle the fall rain without getting clogged. If you have old or damaged gutters, make repairs or replacements as soon as possible. New models have built-in leaf guards which will save you from hours of labor and your home from clogged gutters in the future.
  • Where possible, direct drainage away from the home. Consider a rain garden to improve drainage on your property while also protecting our waterways from pollution.
  • Check the exterior of your home, garage, shed and any other outbuildings for peeling or blistering paint. Make repairs or repaint in try weather. We recommend hiring a professional painter because this can be a time-consuming task.
  • Have your roof inspected for loose, damaged or missing shingles. Harsh fall storms and winter weather can compound any existing problems, so it is better to make repairs as soon as possible.
  • Do fall lawn maintenance including preparing your lawn and gardens for winter, trimming back trees and bushes that could get damaged by fall and winter winds, and rake autumn leaves which you can then use for compost or mulch. Fertilize your lawn for spring.
  • Check your driveway, sidewalk and patio for cracks. Make any necessary repairs.
  • Drain fuel from gas-powered lawn equipment like leaf blowers, lawn mowers, edgers and chain saws.
  • Clean and store patio, porch and deck furniture.

Yes, this seems like a lot of work, but preventative maintenance can save homeowners time and money down the road. And remember – you don’t have to do it yourself. There are plenty of highly skilled contractors throughout the Kent, Covington, Maple Valley, Auburn and Renton area. If you need recommendations, let us know. Team Marti can offer suggestions!

 

Marti Reeder, Realtor, Managing Broker