As the crisp air of fall sets in, it's a great time to focus on essential home maintenance to ensure your property stays in top shape through the colder months. From preparing your home’s exterior to making sure your heating system is ready, here are some fall home maintenance tips that will help you safeguard your home and save money in the long run.

1. Clean and Inspect Gutters 🍂

Falling leaves can easily clog your gutters, which can lead to water damage or even foundation issues if not addressed. Make sure to:

• Clean gutters thoroughly, removing leaves, twigs, and debris.

• Check downspouts for blockages to ensure water flows freely.

• Consider installing gutter guards to prevent future clogs.

2. Check Your Roof 🏠

Your roof is your first line of defense against harsh weather. Fall is the perfect time to inspect it for any damage or wear before winter storms hit:

• Look for missing or damaged shingles.

• Check for signs of moss or algae growth, which can cause damage over time.

• Consider hiring a professional to assess the overall condition of your roof.

3. Seal Windows and Doors 🪟🚪

Drafty windows and doors can lead to higher energy bills and make your home less comfortable during the colder months. To prevent this:

• Inspect the weatherstripping around windows and doors for any gaps or wear.

• Apply caulking to seal cracks around windows and door frames.

• Consider using storm windows or installing energy-efficient windows if drafts are an ongoing issue.

4. Service Your Heating System 🔥❄️

Before the chill really sets in, it’s important to make sure your heating system is functioning properly. Routine maintenance can also extend the life of your system and improve efficiency:

• Replace or clean your furnace filter.

• Schedule a professional HVAC inspection to ensure your system is running smoothly.

• Test your thermostat to ensure it’s working correctly.

5. Chimney and Fireplace Inspection 🪵

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, fall is the time to prepare it for cozy winter nights:

• Have your chimney cleaned by a professional to remove creosote buildup, which can be a fire hazard.

• Inspect the damper and ensure it opens and closes properly.

• Stock up on firewood and keep it in a dry place.

6. Winterize Outdoor Faucets and Sprinklers 💧

To prevent pipes from freezing and bursting during winter, it's crucial to winterize your outdoor water systems:

• Drain and store hoses.

• Turn off the water supply to outdoor faucets, then drain the remaining water.

• Blow out your sprinkler system to remove any water that could freeze and cause damage.

7. Inspect Insulation and Attic Ventilation 🕵️‍♂️

Proper insulation can help keep your home warm in winter and reduce energy costs. Now’s the time to:

• Check for any gaps or thin spots in your attic insulation.

• Ensure that attic ventilation is functioning properly to prevent moisture buildup, which can lead to mold or ice dams.

8. Trim Trees and Shrubs 🌿

Overgrown branches can be a hazard during storms, especially if they hang over your roof or power lines:

• Prune trees and shrubs, trimming back any limbs that are too close to the house.

• Remove any dead or dying branches to prevent them from falling during a storm.

• Consider hiring a tree service for larger trees or more extensive pruning.

9. Check Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors 💨

With more time spent indoors and increased use of heating systems, it’s important to ensure that your home’s safety systems are in good working order:

• Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

• Test the devices to ensure they are functioning properly.

• If your detectors are older than 10 years, consider replacing them.

10. Test Outdoor Lighting and Security 💡

With the days getting shorter, fall is a good time to check and update your outdoor lighting:

• Ensure that motion-sensor lights and security lighting are working properly.

• Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

• Consider adding additional lighting near walkways or entry points for better safety and security during darker months.

Conclusion

Fall home maintenance is essential to prepare for winter’s harsh conditions. By tackling these tasks early, you can prevent costly repairs, improve energy efficiency, and ensure your home remains comfortable and safe. Investing a little time and effort now will pay off with a warm, worry-free home as the temperature drops.

Ready to tackle your fall maintenance checklist? Start early and enjoy the season knowing your home is ready for whatever winter may bring!

Sources:

• Better Homes & Gardens - https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/advice/your-homes-fall-checklist/

• This Old House - https://www.thisoldhouse.com/

• Bob Vila - https://www.bobvila.com/

• Family Handyman - https://www.familyhandyman.com/

• The Spruce - https://www.thespruce.com/

• Redfin - https://www.redfin.com/blog/fall-home-maintenance-checklist/

The process of buying or selling a house seems to involve a million details. It is important that you educate yourself on as many parts of this process as you can—this knowledge could mean the difference of thousands of dollars in the long-run. The legal issues involved in the process are often particularly intricate, ranging from matters of common knowledge to subtle details that might escape the untrained eye. Any of these issues, if not handled properly, could develop into larger problems.

With so many legal issues to consider, your first step should be to seek out experienced professionals to help educate you and represent your best legal interests. Begin with an experienced real estate agent, who can help guide you through the initial hoops. S/he should also be able to point you in the direction of a reputable local real estate lawyer to assist you in all legal matters involved in the purchase or sale of your house. While there are countless legal details involved in a real estate transaction, some seem to pose larger problems than others.

We’ve outlined two legal clauses that are commonly misunderstood and may cost you money if not worded correctly. Handle these carefully and you will be on track to a successful sale or purchase!

1. Home Inspection Clause

Some real estate transactions have been sabotaged due to the wording of the home inspection clause. This clause originally allowed that the buyer has the right to withdraw their offer if the home inspection yielded any undesirable results. However, this allowance was known to backfire, as buyers took advantage of it, using some non-issue stated in the inspection as an excuse for having changed their minds.

Of course, this was unfair to the sellers, as they’d poured time and money into what they believed was a sure deal. Not only might they have missed out on other offers in the interim, but their house might also now be unfairly considered a “problem home.” Additionally, they’d now have to shoulder the costs of continuing to market the property. All of this adds up.

In order to remedy this potential problem, the clause should indicate that the seller has the option of repairing any problems the home inspection might point to. With this slight change in the clause, both buyer and seller are protected. To ensure this clause is fair from one side of the bargain to the other, work closely with a lawyer experienced in these transactions and all the nuances that may affect the outcome for you.

2. Survey Clause

It is the right of a home buyer to add a survey clause to the real estate contract on the home they’d like to purchase. If you are on the selling end of the contract, be aware.

If you have added an addition or a pool to your property since the last survey was produced, your survey will no longer be considered up-to-date and the buyer may request that a new one be drawn up—the cost of which you will incur. The price of this process will run anywhere from $700 to $1,000.

Your real estate agent has the responsibility to provide you with the most recent survey of your home. It is then the Buyer’s right to decide if it is acceptable. An experienced agent should offer you reliable counsel if you encounter an issue with this clause, but it is advisable to talk to your lawyer if you’re unsure at all of the potential ramifications involved. Remember, the wording of this clause could cost or save you thousands of dollars.

Every listing agent’s goal is to obtain the best possible offer for their clients. As a rule of thumb, the sooner an offer is made after your home is listed, the better it will be. This is why it’s critical that you take time to prepare your house for listing. Consider it as though you are prepping your home for a “job interview”, you want to ensure everything is in good working order and your home is ready to put it’s best foot forward.

As soon as you decide to list your home, I would suggest working early with your Realtor® to help evaluate your property. Do a top to bottom walk-through to determine what repairs need to be done and any renovations that might be worth investing in. If you are considering any major renovations, your Realtor® will be able to advise you on which ones will provide the greatest return on investment when the house sells.

Obtaining quotes and getting repairs completed before listing is very important – a pre-listing house and/or septic inspection might be a good idea if you are unsure of the condition of your property. Tackling these issues ahead of time early allows you to list with confidence and avoid unexpected ugly surprises midway through a sale when the buyer does their inspections.

A skilled Realtor® will be able to help you identify serious roadblocks to a straightforward and stress-free sale. This can include, but is certainly not limited to, problems such as mold, rodent infestations, water ingress in the crawlspace, a failing septic field, rotten deck boards or railings, aluminum wiring, roof leaks, damaged or leaking siding, or a buried oil tank.

Anything that is a structural, mechanical, or safety issue should definitely be dealt with prior to listing. As a local Duncan realtor, I would advise not moving ahead with listing until you do. If you absolutely cannot hold off until the repairs are made, be upfront and disclose the issues to potential buyers. Depending on the situation, it may not stand in the way of a potential buyer making an offer as long as they know what they’re walking into. On the other hand, not disclosing issues will most certainly lead to problems at some point during the sale. A skilled buyer’s agent will discover these issues and misrepresenting a property or not disclosing a known problem could end a seller up in court.

Make the best move when it comes to choosing your Realtor®. Why would you settle for anything less?