EP 41 - Steps to Prepare Your Home for Fall - a podcast by Brian Cook And Kindra Cox

On Episode 41 of The Brian and Kindra Show, they discussed tips on how to prepare your home for fall. 

A great place to start is fixing the cracks in your concrete and asphalt. As water penetrates through cracks and freezes, expanding and contracting, it can cause larger cracks and even wash away the concrete underneath, causing the surface to become hollow. You can accomplish this by applying a sealer using a caulking gun or a hydraulic concrete patch. 

Next up, stain your deck!  If you don’t have trex decking (composite decking that weathers well) then your deck will require some maintenance for preservation. You should seal your deck every 4-5 years with paint or wood sealer. 

Check your fire extinguishers. Believe it or not, fire extinguishers have an expiration date. Also, make sure you know how to use it. It might be more complicated than you think!

Spruce up your yard. Plant perennials and shrubs before the first freeze. However, make sure that any previous or newly planted shrubs are away from the home, not against it. Also, now is when you plant bulbs! Put them in a place that gets plenty of sun, then come spring they will grow. Aerate your yard. This will get more oxygen to your plants, helping it grow better. Reseed and fertilize your yard. It’s also important to clean up any grass clippings and/dirt on the side of the house, so it’s not harboring moisture for bugs.  Inspect trees near and around your home and powerlines. When winter comes you risk the chance of them snapping. Trim anything now before it becomes an issue.  If you haven’t set a date for when you’ll stop operating your sprinkler system, do so. Also, check the drainage around your home. Water should drain away from the house, not towards. 

Inspect your home's exterior. One of the most common deferred maintenance is cracked and peeling paint on soffits and eaves. Whenever you keep this nicely painted, it protects the wood of your home and your home investment. Check your siding for cracks and openings. Insects, especially wasps, will find these cracks and have a home for winter. With masonite siding, be sure the bottom edge is sealed. If water gets onto or underneath the siding, it can deteriorate quickly. 

Do a roof check. Make sure the valleys are clear. Most holes and leaks happen in these areas. Back-up of leaves, pine-needles, etc. should also be cleared. In addition, make sure your gutters are clean and clear. Heading into fall, it might be a good idea to invest in gutter guards, but if you can’t - make sure there is no old debris in your gutters. 

Along with the roof, check any chimneys and fireplaces. Make sure your flue functions properly. Otherwise, you are letting a bunch of cold air in throughout the winter. Have a professional chimney sweep inspect and verify you are safe to build a fire.  Any build-up could be potentially hazardous. Don’t let water penetrate through the top of your chimney by making sure your chimney cap isn’t cracked. Roofing companies can replace chimney caps or patch them with the hydraulic concrete mix.

Now is also the best time to have your furnace checked prior to the cold weather. If you wait to call until you have a problem, your service call will be a greater expense.  

Clean out your garage! There is nothing better than having a place to park your car in the cold months. 

Finally, if you get through this list and need more to do, go around and inspect your home as if it wasn’t yours. From there you can see what needs maintenance or what projects need completed. 

Brian and Kindra hope these tips have been helpful to you. As always, if you have any questions or need help, please feel free to reach out to your local real estate professional.

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