As winter gets closer, there are things that you should begin to consider for both the inside and outside of your home to not only protect it but also to maintain your safety, and give you comfort through the colder winter months. Here are a few tips to help you prepare outside your home.
Start with a walk around your home with and keep an eye out for cracks in the foundation or bricks, and caulking or weather stripping that has begun to weaken. Some other things you may want to look for are: evidence of rodents or birds living or nesting in unsafe or unwanted locations, exposed wood that might a fresh protective treatment applied, and items that are too close to heat sources that could become fire hazards. In addition to this, here is a list of other important items to consider:
- Hoses/hose bibs – in Texas we don’t get freezes to often but it is still important to disconnect and drain your hoses and either wrap the hose bibs or cover them with insulating covers to prevent freezing of the pipes. Also check for other unprotected pipes that may need insulating this will prevent the nuisance of dealing with broken pipes later.
- Sprinkler systems – in Texas we typically do not have to drain our sprinkler systems to protect them, however it is a good idea to make sure the automatic timers are turned off to prevent water from an unplanned interval to freeze and damage expensive landscaping.
- Roof – we get enough wind and hail in our area to make it necessary to inspect your roof for loose, missing, worn or damaged shingles, tiles or other roofing material and have any needed repairs made to prevent water damage from the winter rain and snow.
- Gutters - after leaves and other debris has fallen and collected in your gutters from the fall, it is important to clean the gutters and downspouts to prevent water from backing up and causing water damage to the fascia board around your home.
- Fertilize – don’t neglect your lawn it doesn’t die it just hibernates. Applying winter fertilizer to your lawns will stimulate stronger roots and help produce a healthier lawn in the spring.
- Plants - look at your landscaping and determine which plants, if any, that may be sensitive to cooler weather and need to be protected. Some plants may just need to be trimmed, while others could require additional composting materials around their roots to protect them from freezing temperatures, and others may need to be place in sheltered environment. This is also a good time to remove bulbs that won't survive the colder temperatures like dahlias and go ahead and plant your spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils.
You'll find that staging tips can also be useful in organizing your home as well. There are lots of good tips on online for preparing your landscaping for winteras well. Hope these tips prove helpful to you in preparing for winter on the outside of your home.
Try me for any property related matter!
Frisco Real Estate - Frisco Home Search
Prosper Real Estate - Prosper Home Search
Little Elm Real Estate - Little Elm Home Search
McKinney Real Estate - McKinney Home Search
Comments(1)