Top 10 Tips – Preparing Your Home For Fall
We wanted to provide a great list of fall maintenance tips for our renters. Please look through the list below and let us know if there are any items that you need us to coordinate on your behalf with Neda our head property manager!
- Change the air filters in your home: If you have a central air conditioning system, change the air filter regularly. If you have a window air conditioning unit, remove from the window or place a waterproof cover over it to prevent damage during the winter. Change the filters in stove vents, clothes dryers and room fans if applicable. (Clean air filters will keep your family healthier in the fall months!)
- Examine your gutters and downspouts for debris: Clear any leaves and dirt from gutters and examine downspouts for damage or loose pieces. If the gutters on your home are too high to get to safely, submit a maintenance request so that we can have a company do the work on your behalf.
- Check your faucets for leaks: Before the temperatures start to drop, be sure to look at your faucets for any leaks. If you find any problems, it would be better to get them fixed now versus dealing with a burst pipe in the middle of winter.
- Remove leaves from the grass and flower beds: It is very important to remove leaves from the grass and flower beds as they begin to fall, before the cold come. If you don’t pick up the leaves, there is a good chance they’ll kill the grass and landscaping which is expensive to repair.
- Disconnect water hoses from exterior faucets: If you leave the hoses connected to your water faucets, you run the risk of the freezing which can break the supply line. The simple fix is to simply disconnect the hoses. We recommend that you store the hoses in your garage to help them last longer!
- Prepare your fireplace: If you have a working, wood burning fireplace, make sure the damper is open to allow air to freely move through the chimney. Check the damper handle and springs to ensure the flue is operating correctly.
- Have your lawn and garden power tools serviced: Once your grass begins to go dormant, take your lawnmower, trimmer, and other power tools to get their engines serviced, blades sharpened and fluids topped off. People are surprised when they take their equipment in and are told that it will take weeks to get them back. This happens because everyone else is doing the same thing. Get in early to avoid the delay and your tools will be ready to go!
- Clean and store seasonal outdoor furniture: Store cushions in a dry area to prevent cracking, and fading over the fall and winter months. Once spring arrives, you will be pleased that you stored them and they’re ready for use!
- Examine the grounds of your property: Check walkways for cracks and loose paving material. Report any major problems with your walkway and entryway areas before slippery weather can cause someone to have an accident.
- Check windows and doors for drafts: The conditioned air in your home is lost through leaky windows and doors. Go through your home and make sure the seal and caulking around the window frame is in good condition. Think of adding heavier drapery around windows that are extra drafty, to help block air loss. This will make a difference in your heating and air conditioning bills!
