Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

School is back in session.

The air is getting crisp.

Weekends are filled with football.

And the leaves are changing colors.

⤴️ All things that signify one thing: IT’S FALL Y’ALL 🍂

In between your game days, pumpkin spice lattes and fall family favorites, it’s time to consider what the changing season means for your home. 

This cozy season is meant for you to enjoy, but after a summer of being on the go for vacations, summer camps and sleepovers, your home might need a little extra love to make sure that things are staying in tip top shape. 

To get you started, here are my 6 biggest tips for your fall home maintenance:

Inspect your cooling system 🥶

You just said see ya to a season where your air conditioner was working overtime, so it’s time to have your system inspected and serviced so that you get in front of any clogging or breakdowns that could occur in the future.

And I know what you might be thinking: “but I’m not going to be using it as much in the months ahead, so this one can wait.”

But here’s the thing - you wouldn’t wait until your car breaks down to have the oil changed would you? NO! You take preventative action on a regular basis to ensure that your car is running smoothly and to avoid any problems in the future.

It’s the same concept here! A well maintained cooling system can last OVER 25 YEARS 🤯 which means that you’re setting yourself up to avoid problems in the future which means you’re likely putting money back into your bank account and that’s something we can all get behind, right?! 💸

Exterior touch ups 🎨

Did you know that there’s an estimated additional 55% ROI for exterior painting on homes?

Yep, you read that right - by painting the exterior of your home, you significantly increase your return on investment if you ever decide to sell.

But that percentage might not stand if you let that area go untouched for years on end. The original investment is only half of the equation, so if you want to make sure that you’re being rewarded for your efforts down the road, make sure that you’re regularly touching up the exterior. This includes your paint, sealing and siding so that your curb appeal is in pristine condition!

Not to mention, we’re entering the months that bring on all the extra outside decor and it’s a little tricky to admire a porch full of pretty pumpkins when your paint is chipping! So, go ahead and add this one to your next weekend project list and knock it out in a few short hours - I promise it’s worth it!

Aerate your yard 🌱

Okay, let’s talk about lawn aeration. Is it REALLY necessary? That seems to be the question and I get it - I also want to make sure I’m spending my time doing things that matter. 

I’d never suggest that you do something that I myself wouldn’t do too, which is why this one made the list for fall maintenance! You see, lawn aeration creates holes down into the soil to reduce compaction so that air, water and nutrients can reach the grass roots. 

AKA: when you aerate your lawn, you’re creating the opportunity for your grass to live its happiest and healthiest life.

If you neglect this one, your grass will start to thin and eventually die out completely and we both know that’s not a good look. So if you want to receive the “best lawn in the neighborhood” award, don’t skip out! ⭐️

Clean out your gutters 🍂

As you welcome a season that brings falling leaves with it, you’re going to want to make sure those gutters are cleaned out and can withstand the changing season. While this may need to change to a monthly chore during the fall due to the potential increase of debris, clearing them of anything that summer left behind is a good starting point. 

If you let your gutters go untouched, you take the chance of experiencing improper rainwater drainage that can cause extreme damage to your property that’ll end up costing you in the long run. 

And because I’m all about helping you save your hard earned money, I couldn’t leave this maintenance item off the list!

Blow out your sprinklers 💦

Sprinkler systems are a common summertime staple for home owners because during a hot season you’ll go great lengths to make sure your grass maintains its luscious look.

While sprinklers are a great tool for you to use in the warmer months and I highly suggest using them, if you don’t winterize them properly, water will be left in the pipes and cause cracks and breakage in the system. 

The good news is that you can easily avoid this headache by taking action now as the cooler months start approaching!

Replace batteries in your smoke detectors 🔋

Did you know that nearly all fire alarm failures are caused by missing or dead batteries in the detectors? 😳 Working smoke detectors are THE most vital piece to you and your family escaping your home in the event of a fire. 

By taking just a few minutes of your time to replace the batteries in the detectors throughout your home, you’re putting safety first for you and your loved ones and are setting yourself up to avoid the unthinkable disaster and devastation that a house fire can cause. 

This is an often overlooked seasonal rhythm that is SO IMPORTANT, especially as you increase the use of indoor fireplaces and heaters in the fall and winter months.

If you do nothing else on this list, friend, please let it be this!

When you carve out just a bit of your time to complete these 6️⃣ fall maintenance items, you can freely take a trip to the pumpkin patch with your PSL in hand while knowing that your home is in its tip top shape for you to truly enjoy this season.

Happy fall, friend 🍂☕️🎃🏈

P.S. If you want to make sure that you’re staying on top of your home maintenance for ALL seasons, go ahead and download the seasonal checklist to make things easy for you during all four seasons!