10 ways to prep your home for fall

Hey guys! We’re back today with the fabulous Homes.com to talk a little about a change in the winds here – and all things getting your home ready for Fall! {Am I the only one who gets a little Mary-Poppin’s-ish in my head when I use the phrase change in the winds? You’re welcome for the ear worm. I feel a little bit like the extra Nannies getting ready to blow away with the never ending lists of things to do.} I digress, but we are excited to partner with Homes.com to share 10 ways to prep your home for Fall!

10 ways to prep your home for Fall

We’re slowly but surely starting to warm up to the idea- but we always drag our feet a little, right into Fall. I blame it on the fact that we now own a pool. I’m definitely a warm weather gal – but it’s good to think ahead with all things prep! So without further ado, here’s 10 ways to prep your home for Fall:  

1. First things first: add a little spruce to your outside. 

Yeah, I know. We had to start with pretty as we kick off the list of ways to prep your home for Fall. I just couldn’t help myself.

No, you don’t have to take on a total overhaul for your side entrance. {see our transformation here.)But, you if you’re anything like us, those spring flowers are officially on their last leg, and it’s time to replenish them with something that can see you through the colder months. I’m over all of the dead heads, and it’s time for something fresh! 

Mums are definitely in season, and can be fun alongside all things pumpkins in smaller pots, but look for something that will last and are easy to maintain for a wow affect on the curb appeal front. We think if you start with the pretty, it gets you ready to take care of the necessary stuff that you can’t see.

Which brings us to…

2. Check out that fireplace

Yeah. It’s time. Make sure your pilot light is working, your chimney is cleaned out, and your firewood is ready to go in the upcoming months.

As you prep your home for fall, it is the perfect time to make sure everything is in working order, so on your first rainy cold morning, that wonderful fire can start up without any fuss. It’s the best way to cozy up your home, and has so many benefits if you think ahead. So check out that fireplace!

3. Winterize your pipes and pools

We’re big fans of checking for any potential problems with exposed pipes or water spouts in the upcoming colder months. Our pool system burst a pipe last winter when a chlorinator wasn’t opened wide enough. Needless to say, that was a rude awakening when it came to our routine and what we need to stay on top of during those months. We don’t shut our pool down for the season, but we also think no matter what your routine, it’s important to keep an eye out for those, too as you prep your home for fall.

Every home is different but start getting it ready so that you can take care of anything that’s necessary. 

4. Check your roof, crawlspace, and gutters. 

We’re entering the rainy months where we live, and we know that it’s important to prep ahead to prevent future problems. Every area offers its own sets of pros and cons, but rainy cold months are a big deal here. Making sure things are in working order can help with preventing all things flooding in the future, as well as energy efficiency. They’re important to keep an eye on.  

If you take the time to clean your gutters as a part of your routine to prep your home for fall, you’ll ensure that no one will be walking out the door under a waterfall.

While you’re on the ladder, give your roof a good once over as well to make sure there no visible damages to the shingles. And once you’re off the ladder it’s always a good idea to check your crawl space for water intrusions. We know no one enjoys crawling around down there, but if you can identify any issues before they become major, it’ll save you money and a major headache. {TRUST us – see our own crawlspace encapsulation last Fall} So don’t leave this one off your to do list as you prep your home for fall.

 

5. Check all your windows and doors + {bonus!} get a furnace tune up. 

Check all those openings and crevices for all things drafts, and places that may need extra caulking. Do you need to replace a cracked older window before the weather gets colder? Or reinforce that door? Drafts and unwanted cold air can make a huge difference in your electricity bill, and it’s great to think about it now, rather than later. So as you think about your gameplan for how you will prep your home for Fall, keep in mind that it’s estimated that 1/3 of a home’s energy loss is through windows and doors. Check for weather stripping, as well as caulking and all those sneaky places that the cold weather can get in.

And always make sure that furnace and HVAC is working smoothy by having it inspected by your certified professional.

6. Purge

I know this isn’t necessarily something that people do seasonally, but we say it helps to keep clutter to a minimum. Everyone always focuses on Spring cleaning, but we say Fall cleaning is important too. Especially if your home is fresh in the upcoming months. With school starting back for many, and all things work in between, it helps the potential winter blues to have a cleaner, fresher home.

So from deep cleaning to throwing out last year’s school papers {I totally did that this morning} get a head start on all those little things that have been nagging you, now that a new season is about to begin. We have plenty of time now, and Jamin and I personally need to take a few weekends to make everything fresh again. It’s definitely time. 

7. Change out your bedding and blankets. 

If you’re anything like us, you probably love having some blankets around your house for a grab and snuggle. We keep ours within arms reach at all times. And if you’re hot natured like us, you probably had lighter blankets on your beds all summer.

Switch out all your lighter bedding and blankets, and get ready to cozy up with the heavier stuff for winter. 

8. Make a plan for all outdoor furnishings. 

Every home is different, but do you store your outside furniture anywhere when all that cooler weather hits? Do you have covers for anything to preserve it and keep it up and running in the cooler months? Make a plan to store all your stuff. 

Now that our back shed is torn down and we’re in the middle of this overhaul, we needed a place to keep our things. We had some friends graciously offer to store our furniture in their barn for the winter, and we are so glad to have a space for it. So whether it’s under a covering where it can stay nice and dry, or just all those cushions put away until Spring, make a game plan for all things outdoors. 

9. Ready all your yard tools + bring anything important indoors

Prep your lawnmower, and get that chainsaw ready. Cold weather can be harsh on all things yard tools, and it’s important to go through that list, to make sure nothing happens when you least expect it. 

Even if you have a small shed, did you know that things like paint can freeze? I guess we’ve never lived anywhere far enough north, and so this was a wakeup call for us, when we had to bring all our paint indoors. I guess we keep a lot on hand with all the projects we take on, so we always like having a ready supply. Think through what the cold weather may affect in those yard storage sheds and bring them in. 

10. Check all your safety devices! 

Clearly this is totally out of order, because this should probably be number one. But From security cameras, to carbon monoxide and fire alarms – make it a yearly routine to change out batteries and what ever else you need to make sure everything is in working order. At the very least, nothing says misery like a battery gone awry in the middle of the night on a fire alarm. Seriously – we’ve been there. Make it your yearly routine to switch out all the things that may need a refresh. Your 1 am self will thank you when they get to sleep through the night, safely, in the future.

Seriously check all your safety devices. And just for fun have you seen the advanced home security systems that even have live monitoring security guards? They can even talk to and warn the intruders! How awesome!

And we can’t include everything in our list of ways to prep your home for Fall so be sure to check out this awesome infographic from Homes.com, to make sure that everything is ready to go! We hope this serves as a friendly little reminder. What are some of your favorite things to do to prep for the Fall? We’d love to hear some of your ideas!

 

I’m sure there are so many more things to add to our list. We’ve teamed up with some more of our very fave fabulous sites to check out how they prep for Fall – 

• Thistlewood Farms 
• LollyJane 
• Home with Keki

So be sure to check out their versions, and hop on over! 

This is just our top ten with all things prepping the home, and we want to hear from you! What are some of your favorite things you like to do to get your home ready for Fall?

:: This post is brought to you in partnership with our friends at Homes.com.  All opinions are 100% ours. Please read our full disclosure pertaining to partnerships here ::