Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Time to get your home ready for changing weather. My recommended essentials: 

• Book an appointment to have your sprinkler system winterized ASAP. If this tasks gets away from you and you're worried about a freeze, check out this Organo-Lawn video on steps you can take to protect pipes.   

• Have your gutters cleaned. 

• Get your furnace serviced.

• Disconnect hoses and turn off outdoor water (if hose bibs are not frost-free).

• Seal cracks around doors and windows.

• Replace smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries.

• Have your chimney cleaned and check that the damper is working.

Declutter for Spring

Many times I meet with clients who are ready to make a change (relocate, downsize, retire, invest), but find themselves  hostage to piles of stuff. The good news? Lots of good organizations could really use your stuff, and they will come and get it for free. Setting a once-a-month pick up provides a deadline to keep clutter moving out the door. Easily arrange pick ups and choose a charity through the web site Donation Town. 

Read my MAY 2013 e-newsletter.

Fall Check List

• Sprinkler system  Have your sprinkler system blown out in order to prevent it from freezing and leaking.   

• Caulking and weather stripping  Inspect the caulking and weather stripping around windows and doors and check for cracking and peeling.

• Ceiling fans  Reverse the direction of ceiling fans so the blades turn clockwise, forcing force warm air around the room.

• Furnace Have your furnace tuned including changing the filter and making sure the thermostat is working.

• Heating ducts  Ducts should be cleaned every two years.

• Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors  Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and install fresh batteries.

• Gutters  Clean your gutters to prevent clogs that can cause rainwater spill over or back up and freeze.

Read my SEPT 2012 e-newsletter.