Fall is a beautiful time of year in Virginia! The leaves are changing, the air is cooling, fireplaces begin burning and the world begins preparing for Winter.
Fall is the ideal time to tackle maintenance around your home. I often meet with sellers, prior to listing their 
homes, and have to tell them that they need to address their deferred maintenance before we can even begin to talk about putting the house on the market. It is far easier to take care of these tasks along the way (remember the word maintenance is derived from the word MAINTAIN).
homes, and have to tell them that they need to address their deferred maintenance before we can even begin to talk about putting the house on the market. It is far easier to take care of these tasks along the way (remember the word maintenance is derived from the word MAINTAIN).What are some of the items that should be on your Fall Maintenance list?
- Gutter cleaning. Wait for the leaves to fall, but then get those gutters cleaned out. This will allow water to flow freely off your roof and held avoid leaks and water damage resulting from drainage back ups.
- Driveway sealing. This has to be done early in the Fall (due to temperatures), but it is easier to maintain an asphalt driveway than to repair or replace it.
- Lawn intervention. Fall is the time to do the work on your lawn so that you will see the results in the Spring. Aerating, de-thatching and over-seeding are all good tasks for this time of year.
- Caulking repair. Look at the caulk seals around your windows and make sure they are in good shape. If the caulk has shrunk or pulled away, replace it for a good seal.
- Trim replacement. Check to make sure there is no rotting trim around your house. Deal with it now so that you don't need to worry about it in the Spring.
- Put away pots. Clay and ceramic pots don't do well in our Virginia winters. To preserve them for use next year, clean them out and put them somewhere out of the elements (garage or basement).
- Bush replacement. If you lost any plants or bushes during the summer heat, this is a good time to replant.
- HVAC Checkup. It is a good idea to get your HVAC system checked annually. Regular maintenance will keep in running longer and more efficiently.
- Fireplace cleaning. If your fireplace is a wood-burning, you should have it cleaned and inspected.
- Water shut-off. Remember to turn off outside spigots as the temperatures drop toward freezing. If you have a sprinkler system, this, too, should be winterized.
It is easier to maintain a home than to try to bring your home back up to generally accepted standards.
If you decide to sell your home in the Spring, you will be able to focus on cleaning out and cleaning up--not the deferred maintenance.
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