7 Fall Home Maintenance Projects You Shouldn’t Ignore

 


7 Fall Home Maintenance Projects You Shouldn’t Ignore

Wisconsin fall has a way of sneaking up on us. One week you're enjoying the lake with temperatures in the 70s, and a few weeks later you're wondering whether it's too early to turn on the furnace.

For homeowners, September is a great time to get ahead of the colder weather. A little preventive maintenance now can help protect your home, reduce the chance of expensive winter surprises, and keep everything running smoothly when the snow starts flying.

1. Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts

Those beautiful fall leaves don't look quite as charming when they're clogging your gutters. Blocked gutters can cause water to overflow instead of being directed away from your home. As temperatures drop, trapped water can freeze and contribute to ice buildup. Clear leaves and debris, check that gutters are securely attached, and make sure downspouts direct water well away from the foundation.

2. Have Your Heating System Checked

Don't wait for the first bitterly cold Wisconsin night to discover the furnace isn't working properly. Consider having your heating system inspected before winter. At minimum, replace or clean the furnace filter according to the manufacturer's recommendations. It's also a good time to test your thermostat and make sure vents aren't blocked by furniture.

3. Inspect the Roof

You don't necessarily need to climb onto the roof yourself - and in many cases, you shouldn't. Instead, look from the ground for obvious warning signs such as missing or damaged shingles, loose flashing, damaged gutters, or tree branches touching the roof. Catching a small problem before snow and ice arrive can prevent a much larger repair later.

4. Disconnect Outdoor Hoses and Protect Faucets

Disconnect garden hoses before freezing temperatures arrive. Leaving a hose connected can trap water inside the faucet or pipe, potentially leading to freezing and damage. If your home has shutoff valves for exterior faucets, follow the appropriate winterization procedure for your plumbing system. If your irrigation system requires professional winterization, get that appointment on the calendar early.

5. Check Drainage Around Your Foundation

Walk around your home after a good rainfall. Is water moving away from the foundation - or collecting next to it? Check grading, downspouts, window wells, and other drainage areas. Water management is important year-round, but it's particularly worth addressing before frozen ground, snow, and spring thaw complicate things.

6. Inspect Your Fireplace and Chimney

There's nothing quite like a fire on a cold Wisconsin evening, but fireplaces and chimneys need proper care. If you regularly use a wood-burning fireplace, consider having the chimney inspected and cleaned as appropriate by a qualified professional. Before using any fireplace for the season, make sure you're comfortable that the system is operating safely.

7. Test Your Safety Equipment

Test your smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and backup sump pump or battery system if equipped. Replace batteries and equipment as recommended by their manufacturers. With furnaces, fireplaces, space heaters, and other heating equipment seeing more use during colder months, fall is a natural time to make this part of your routine.

Bonus: Look at Your Home Like a Buyer Would

Even if you aren't planning to sell anytime soon, walk around your property as though you're seeing it for the first time. Look for peeling paint, cracked caulk, loose railings, damaged screens, worn weatherstripping, neglected landscaping, and little repairs you've gotten used to seeing. Individually, these things may seem minor. Together, they affect how well your home is maintained - and eventually how buyers perceive it. Regular maintenance isn't only about preparing a house for sale. It's about protecting one of your largest investments.

Thinking About Selling in the Next Year?


Fall is an excellent time to start preparing - even if you aren't planning to put your home on the market until spring.

I can walk through your home with you and help identify which improvements may actually matter to buyers, which projects can probably wait, and where your money is best spent before selling.


Ask David

Q: Should I make repairs now if I'm not planning to sell until next spring?

A: In many cases, yes. Starting early gives you time to handle maintenance without the pressure of preparing a home for the market at the last minute. The trick is knowing which projects actually matter. Before spending heavily on renovations, I recommend looking at your home through the eyes of today's buyers and prioritizing accordingly.


Location: Oconomowoc, WI 53066, USA

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